[Tom114]

So I bought my first DSLR, a pentax k-5 II. I'm working with a Tamron 28-75/2.8, trying to get some action photos to come out well. I've attached two jpegs below (shot with raw, minimal processing in lightroom where I adjusted WB and exposure), one of which is soft/out of focus, and the other is considerably better.

I am working on setting up a focus chart to try to check out the lens/camera, but would appreciate any tips anyone might have for a beginner trying to work out how to take a decent picture.

These are both crops of approximately the same size, I did not include the full size since I don't think they add anything (let me know if that is a mistake as well).

Attached Images

   

[ihasa]

An entire shot would be helpful. Was the camera on auto-select AF mode? Could the camera have focussed on something other than the boy? AF is not infallible. Was the AF set to speed priority mode, in which case the shutter would fire before accurate focus is achieved?

[foto guy]

Were these shot wide open?
I've had focus issues, too, mainly with my 50/1.4.
Fortunately, Pentax gives users the ability to fine tune their lenses, which you likely will have to do.

[treebeard]

On the first one I see absolutely nothing in focus, almost as if the camera was set to fire even if nothing was in focus. The second seems to be a bit in focus, but what are you settings?

[Tom114]

Thanks for the feedback. Both these shots were wide open at f2.8, with ISO 100 or 200, and a shutterspeed of 1/640. I realized after I posted yesterday that the camera was on Auto Select for AF points (I thought I had it switched to center, but was distracted by people talking to me and missed the screw up).

Perhaps a better way to phrase this would be- for people that regularly shoot sports/action with a K-5 II, what settings do you use?

[mike.hiran]

probably spot focus, TAV mode with aperture around f5.6 and shutter speed around 1/500th and ISO set to auto 100-3200 (or higher). if you have a longer lens that's decent, I'd use it. if not, try to get closer to the action and then put the da55-300 on your wish list

[SKwan]

These photos seem continuously shot.

I think the blur of 1st photo comes from 1)camera shake or 2)using AFC focusing ... this mode will trigger a shot even if the objects do not get focused yet or 3)using AFS focuing with setting "Shutter Release Priority" ... this reason should be exluded if the 2nd photo is shot in the same shutter release of the 1st one.

[Tom114]

These were shot with AF-C, but the camera seems to have an issue locking focus at least with this lens. The two shots earlier were shot at the same time, but not in burst mode (I don't have the manual in front of me to see what the term Pentax uses for this is). The only other AF lens I have is the kit 18-55, which I hope to try on Wednesday. Here is another photo that is symptomatic of what I am trying to clean up.

[SKwan]

I seldom use AFC focusing since it needs the user to promptly release the shutter once if the focus is confirmed(red dots shown in the viewfinder) before the next focusing starts.

For sport or moving/flying animals photographing, I like to use 5-Point AFS plus Hi-speed Continuous Shooting(burst mode in your term). You may try so and hope you can have better results!

[Stargeezer]

Are you using a tripod?? If so try without or use a remote