[Vmax911]

Hi all,

As a father, I enjoy taking pictures of my children and that involves sports. A few months ago I was considering jumping ship and picking up a refurbed Nikon D7500.During that time someone posted a used KP from KEH in the "price watch" subforum for a great price, so I decided to give it a shot. I must say, I am impressed with many aspects of the KP, and certainly find the AF-C sufficient for my autofocus needs when paired with a fast focusing lens.

Here are the sports I am trying to cover: High school lacrosse, Middle school basketball, and karate.

Lacrosse: Outdoor in good lighting, though the light may drop off near the end of some games. Nothing at night with artificial lighting. I currently use the 55-300 PLM. It has been outstanding in focusing when I need it to, but does like to be stopped down a hair. I typically shoot in the 50-200mm range. I would like to be able to have better subject isolation.

Basketball: Toughest one for me, gym lighting is not great. I typically use the 18-135 DC. Focus is fast enough but I really have to bump up the ISO to get a good shutter speed. I typically shoot from 40mm up. I have tried the 70mm limited and FA 50mm, but focus seemed to be an issue for me, though I am sure I could improve my technique.

Karate: Indoor lighting is again a problem. I use the 18-135 here again and have the same issues in basketball. I typically shoot 40-120mm.

So with my current setup, the issues I am having doesn't seem to be autofocus but lens speed. However, most of the Pentax' large aperture offerings involve SDM focusing, which I have heard said is slower than the screw drive?! So here are some options:

Pentax 50-135mm F2.8 - My concern is focusing speed and SDM reliability. I can get a used copy within budget (under $500 USD) and the size seems about right. It may be a little short for lacrosse.
Pentax DA* 200mm F2.8 - Same SDM issues as above, should be able to find one in budget, too long for karate and most likely basketball as well.
Pentax 60-250mm F4 - Again SDM, outside of budget, getting pretty big size wise. But probably the perfect focal length
Pentax 70-200 F2.8 - Awesome yet massive, $$$. Don't think I'd have room for this in the karate studio!

Sigma throws a couple wild cards in with their HSM lenses. I have no experience with them but have heard they are fast focusing.

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 - Seems to be a bit of a unicorn, size is right but most likely over budget when found
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 - Slightly less of a unicorn but large and most likely over budget.

Tamron also has a 70-200mm F2.8 that would be in budget, but I'm afraid the screw drive AF kills it.

Any thoughts or other lenses I haven't considered?

[pid]

if you push up ISO you will get better speed. Noise is not realy the problem. See: ISO Fun K1 K3 K5 - PentaxForums.com

[MikeyBugs95]

The Sigma 50-150 HSM II isn't all that uncommon. There's a few available on eBay. They're a bit expensive but they seem on par with the 50-135. From my experience with the 50-135 (only about 6 months or so) the SDM speed isn't astounding, it racks the entire range in about 1-2 seconds, but it isn't bad. From what I've read, the 50-150 is a faster focusing lens.

Also, for what it's worth, I've gone through 2 50-135s so far and only one died on me... And it was my fault. I damaged one of the weather sealing gaskets while trying to fix the SDM that was DOA when I bought it used. I fixed the SDM; broke the ring. So I tried to fix the gasket. Broke more gaskets and then had to take the entire lens apart and couldn't get it back together. So I think the only way to really destroy a Pentax lens is to physically take it apart.

[Vmax911]

if you push up ISO you will get better speed. Noise is not realy the problem. See: ISO Fun K1 K3 K5 - PentaxForums.com

This is true, maybe I'm just gun shy to really push the ISO. Though it doesn't help get better subject isolation.

[clickclick]

The 50-135 and 60-250 are great lenses, but they are not fast. I'd be pressed to say which of the two was slower, perhaps the 50-135. When I need speed, I go for the PLM. That all said, I've had some good luck prefocusing the 50-135 and 60-250 where I expected the action to be so they don't have to "think" too much to lock in.

[sergysergy]

I think the best compromise between size, price and focusing speed is the Sigma 70-200. If you can get one of the older models (pre HSM) I would go for those.

[Vmax911]

I think the best compromise between size, price and focusing speed is the Sigma 70-200. If you can get one of the older models (pre HSM) I would go for those.

Why would you go for the screw drive models? I thought the HSM would be faster (certainly quieter) or is that choice for budgetary purposes?

[sergysergy]

Based on others' reviews and my own assessment the first models (those that were not macro) were sharper. I have done motorsports with them and they are fast too!

[dicki]

I think SDM is good.
Only my Sigma 70-210 is faster

[mikesbike]

Since I got a KP, I use my DA* 50-135mm SDM more often. A nice combo, since the lens is compact for what it is, like the camera itself. Handles very nicely. With the KP, it might be fast enough for sports. With this lens, if SDM fails it can be converted to screw-driven, and reported to be faster yet for AF. I often use it in combo with a Sigma 17-50mm EX DC when I need f/2.8 aperture capability. Good for many scenarios. With the fine resolution provided, especially with a KP, a bit of cropping as needed should pose no issue.

I also have the DA* 200mm f/2.8 to add as a threesome, a very fine trio, but the DA* 200mm SDM does tend to be the slowest for AF. It seems also to require more battery power. The battery runs low sooner.

[Vmax911]

I often use it in combo with a Sigma 17-50mm EX DC when I need f/2.8 aperture capability.

Is your Sigma 17-50 an HSM lens? If so, how is the focusing speed compared to the 50-135 SDM?

[WillWeaverRVA]

The Sigma 70-200 is great for basketball if you're shooting FF or action on the other side of the court but I've generally found that it's not wide enough for up close shots when sitting on the baseline. I've generally gone with either a 50mm lens (usually the FA 50 1.7) or something like the Tamron 28-75mm for those shots. However, the AF speed is probably the best out of all the ones you've listed that I've actually tried shooting with.

That being said, if you're shooting from the stands (which I actually did before I started shooting basketball with credentials), the Sigma 70-200 might be just about perfect.

[angerdan]

Any thoughts or other lenses I haven't considered?

The third-party lens for Pentax K with fastest AF is indeed the Sigma 50-150mm 2.8 DC.

Pentax Screwdrive-lenses are mostly faster than the lenses with old SDM (2008-2018).
Fast Pentax lenses are:
F 70-210mm 4-5.6
FA* 80-200mm 2.8
HD D FA* 70-200mm F2.8 ED DC AW

For faster screwdrive speed, get the K-1
And use fully charged (original) batteries so they have an higher voltage.
Or even the Battery Grip and switch to the second battery after some shots.

[mikesbike]

Is your Sigma 17-50 an HSM lens? If so, how is the focusing speed compared to the 50-135 SDM?

I have not used the DA* 50-135mm for action shooting, but I find it seems to focus reasonably fast and not prone to hunting. I have shot speed boats on the river with no problem. Being from the film era, I rarely do burst shooting.

The Sigma 17-50mm EX DC is designated HSM as appears in the the B&H listing from which I bought mine earlier this year, I believe. I think their EX series lenses having DC AF motors are invariably HSM. I find it to have fast, accurate AF performance. I have so far shot a bit of roller-hockey using it with no issues.

The Sigma 50-150 EX DC may very well have faster AF. By all reports, it is a very good lens. But maybe not faster than a DA* 50-135mm converted to screw-driven. As far as reach, when you get out to 135mm, going to 150mm does not show a lot of difference. The DA* lens is also more compact to go with a KP body. I've had my DA* 50-135mm for 10 years now, and (knocking on wood) so far it has been fine. Some say more recent batches have improved SDM motors. But I would like to see this fine lens re-issued with a DC motor. Might be better for action. But so far I am not dissatisfied.

[Vmax911]

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like the Sigma 50-150 would be faster focusing than the DA 50-135. Now I have to decide if it is worth the extra $.