Originally posted by jaad75 It is a great shot indeed, but can you really judge the details/sharpness and the lack of noise on websize pictures like that?
ISO3200 is not even such a high ISO anymore, considering that ISO1600 is the new ISO400...
While you pictures look good, the one of kenspo look really great.
The first one of your at iso 640 has flare and has a bit lack lack of contrast/sharpness. The second on is much more difficult condition (12800 isos) is good too, but again, not as great. Technically the noise is visible and again this isn't that sharp/constrasty.
Your picture are great, but clearly not as good as the one of kenspo. Maybe if we try to analyse technically pure sharpness etc it is not better but nobody would be mistaken.
An I would be glad already to manage photos like yours in concert, but there levels.
After it is the gear or is it the photographer... Likely the photographer, but as kenspo explained the focus here is very fast, I think he enjoy really using it. And that also participate a lot to the result.
In the end if one want to buy a great lenses for concert he can understand the pentax is really heavy but nail focus really really fast in difficult condition with K3. He see he can get great pictures with it.
It it necessary? Well sure one would manage with old tamron 70-200, but that may be more difficult to focus...