[GvilleRick]

It was a beautiful day here yesterday so I made a trip downtown to watch a college baseball game. Best of all, admission was free and the crowd was light so I was able to get shots from various spots including a front row seat on the third base side. The matchup was Harvard vs Michigan State. I decided to take the DA 55-300 since it would be pretty bright. Would have liked to have the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 at times.

























Safe at second



Then out at third

[dadipentak]

college baseball game

Nice work!

[GvilleRick]

It was a busy night last night as I shot four different games. Starting with soccer:





And then softball:




a little baseball:




and finally boys' soccer:




The biggest challenge on a night like this is the changing lighting.

[florinlib]

DA*200/2.8 @ 3,5

[volley]

Great catch Florin!

[jppp]

Today's shots, U19 football:


I like this one, because the focus is on the disappointed guy, while the goal scoring team is in the background and out-of-focus.




Needing a longer quality lens. I was at the wrong end of the pitch when the home team got a corner kick. My son trying to score a goal by a header but no luck this time.


The ball is in the net and the goal scoring player is running backwards waiting for the team mates to catch up. The black'n'white team won 3-0.

Before the U19 game the local ladies team (a bit of Ron's territory...) had their season opener against the big and bad team from Helsinki. Usually they play on a small stadium, but the match was transferred to this pitch because of the sudden snow storm over the last couple of days. However, not much left of the snow any more.


I was not going to shoot this match at all, and I missed a couple of spectacular goals by the home team. At least I got the celebrations.


Glad to say that the local girls won the game. A good start for the season.

All the above shot with K-5 + Tamron 70-200 f2.8.

Edit: One more, which actually is a goal scoring header, not exactly well timed but she's still airborne.

[GvilleRick]

jppp - Love the first shot as well. Really nice contrast of emotions.

We had another beautiful day so I drove to Clemson University to watch a college baseball game between Clemson and Florida State. FSU is ranked #1 or #2 in the various baseball polls and went on to win the game 11-1.

The Florida State pitcher is the son of former Major League pitcher Charlie Leibrandt. He pitched a complete game 4 hitter.








Jameis Winston pinch hit in the ninth inning. Winston in also the quarterback for the FSU national Championship Football team and Heisman Trophy winner. He flied out to left.

[jon404]

Great soccer pictures! Great baseball pictures! K-5 for sports, all the way!

[bass3587]

GvilleRick those are some nice baseball pics. Great job with the Sigma!

[GvilleRick]

GvilleRick those are some nice baseball pics. Great job with the Sigma!

Thanks. A couple were taken using the Pentax DA 55-300. I wish I had taken the Bigma with me. The 70-200 just didn't have enough reach from the outfield seats.

[Randy B]

MY wife has a K5 IIs with the Sigma 18-250 lens. Would her picture quality be better with a Pentax lens with near the same zoom range. We just bought her a new K3 with the Pentax 55-300 lens and IT IS FANTASTIC! BUT we were wondering if a new Pentax lens on the K5 would give us a better picture quality

[GvilleRick]

I have been very happy with the 55-300 as long as there is enough light. It was one of the first lenses I bought back when I was using either the K10D or K20D. The previous photos I posted of the Harvard vs Michigan St. baseball game were all taken with a K5IIs and the DA 55-300.

[clackers]

BUT we were wondering if a new Pentax lens on the K5 would give us a better picture quality

Randy, you got a great improvement by buying a dedicated long lens instead of using one to cover all lengths.

You can do the same at the other end with something like a 16-45, 17-50, even 16-50 if you have the cash.

Probably not the 18-55, but it has its defenders.

Shooting a Ballet Space & Tech Rehearsal at the stage with a DA 12-24 & Tamron 28-75 on K5IIs bodies, I had room to put a 50-135 on a backup K-5 body. It still works.

[DSims]

MY wife has a K5 IIs with the Sigma 18-250 lens. Would her picture quality be better with a Pentax lens with near the same zoom range. We just bought her a new K3 with the Pentax 55-300 lens and IT IS FANTASTIC! BUT we were wondering if a new Pentax lens on the K5 would give us a better picture quality

Yes, it will certainly do better - on either a K-5 or K-5 IIs. The IIs is an especially strong body (in performance) and can take advantage of whatever lens you put on it.


Naturally, try the DA55-300 on it before you buy anything. The Sigma 18-250 is versatile, but the IQ is fairly average.



The IQ from any K-5 or the K-3 (or for that matter, probably any Pentax DSLR body) is deserving of the IQ from even the most expensive Pentax lenses. So if you have the need (and they're in your budget) you can consider one. A well-balanced kit usually consists of a few lenses that cost nearly as much as (or more than) your camera bodies.