AF-C of K-3III is impressive

Smolk · 04-19-2021, 08:14 AM

I'd wonder whether too much automation kills the art of it all, but I guess you can say that of AF, P, etc

Ishpuini · 04-19-2021, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by Smolk

I'd wonder whether too much automation kills the art of it all, but I guess you can say that of AF, P, etc

Wasn't it photography that killed the art of painting?

Wim

Smolk · 04-19-2021, 08:56 AM

Some would still think so. There is however a subtle difference between art photos and photos for photographers

repaap · 04-19-2021, 09:32 AM

If one chooses photo instead of painting, there is something which can be due preferences. Photo has always been just a photo. Magic in fractions of a second. And photo necessarily is not art. Painting how ever usually is art. Even if it could be also done in fraction of a second. it is not apples to apples or even Apple to dog comparison. A dog or painter could combine both or all of that. Photographer could try to catch it.

wkraus · 04-19-2021, 02:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by RobSpain

Given that you use both cameras, APS-C and FF, can I ask you a question? It's regarding wide angle distortion when using wide angle lenses. Going back to the eighties I shot a lot of real estate photography on an LX with a 20mm SMC lens. I now shoot on a K-70 with a 10-20mm Sigma f/3.5 lens. As a point of comparison, to replicate 20mm using FF, I need to set the Sigma lens to about 13mm on the K-70. Although I manage to keep distortion to a minimum in my shots, using the built-in spirit level, I still notice that objects (furniture, etc.) close to the lens seem more distorted than when I used the LX + 20mm. So, do you find that a wide angle lens on a FF such as the K-1 performs better than one on an APS-C camera?

Perspective is the one thing that is format-independent. It only depends on the orientation and position of your camera, plus the field of view of your lens that determines how much the camera will capture of the subject. However, distortion can matter quite a bit, which might explain differences between lenses with the sam field of view.

gatorguy · 04-19-2021, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by cl1352

Went to YouTube and slowed down the playback to 0.25.. Seems like it can generally track on the face, although I am waiting to see how it will work with a live person.

Check the 4:30 mark in this video

You Tube

noelpolar · 04-19-2021, 04:13 PM - **3 Likes**

Haha... eye control AF..... that would be the end off me..... every photo from that point on would only have the pretty girl in the frame in focus..... "wife trouble focus" would be better name...... or "bad husband exposure"

I'd just have to shoot everything at f16 I guess....

**robbiec** · 04-19-2021, 04:24 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by mtkeller

When it passes with flying colors, they will accuse Pentax of specifically designing their AF tracking algorithms to excel at the zig zag bike test, declare the zig zag bike test invalid, and then contrive some other completely unrealistic tracking scenario at which they find a tiny amount of struggle for the K-3 iii and then declare it to be horrible because of that.

Nooo, they'll do the bike test but paint the bike absolute grey (gray for non English spellers

) and spray paint the rider grey too. They need to test the RGB-IR sensor in parallel with the AF tracking.

**mattt** · 04-19-2021, 06:56 PM

This thread has me exercising the AF.C and expanded area AF on my K-1. It did well with the DFA 70-210 wide open in dusky light - I can't wait to see how SAFOX 13 compares to SAFOX 12.

MMVIII · 04-19-2021, 10:37 PM

Originally posted by reh321

It does seem less awkward than finding - and moving - a 'joystick' around .... but this thread is about what Pentax does, not about what Canon does.

As always when automatic systems will take decisions some will like it, some not. I assume (can't more without ever having tried it) that it would make me crazy if the AF point would follow the eyes pupil while looking through the viewfinder undiscriminating. If I do control the framing of a shot I dont want to have the focus follow that. Same for looking at the viewfinder info lcd line etc...

RobSpain · 04-20-2021, 01:05 AM

Originally posted by wkraus

Perspective is the one thing that is format-independent. It only depends on the orientation and position of your camera, plus the field of view of your lens that determines how much the camera will capture of the subject. However, distortion can matter quite a bit, which might explain differences between lenses with the sam field of view.

Thanks for that! It was "...Perspective is the one thing that is format-independent." that I wasn't sure about.

thibs · 04-20-2021, 01:08 AM

Originally posted by MMVIII

As always when automatic systems will take decisions some will like it, some not. I assume (can't more without ever having tried it) that it would make me crazy if the AF point would follow the eyes pupil while looking through the viewfinder undiscriminating. If I do control the framing of a shot I dont want to have the focus follow that. Same for looking at the viewfinder info lcd line etc...

Absolutely, I can't imagine the madness this would be.

**Serkevan** · 04-20-2021, 01:16 AM

Originally posted by gatorguy

Check the 4:30 mark in this video
PENTAX K-3 Mark III ?Impressions? Jin Qi - YouTube

This is fantastic, yup. Even DPR are gonna have to concede that the camera has working AF now

totsmuyco · 04-20-2021, 03:38 AM

There are many feedback on the K-3III's AF.C. It's a great improvement over the previous models. I just hope the technology will be used in all future models. Maybe Pentax can attract new users.

**gaweidert** · 04-20-2021, 04:20 AM

Originally posted by Ishpuini

Wasn't it photography that killed the art of painting?

Wim

No. Photography freed up painting to explore whole new methods of expression. No longer stuck to portrait and still life painting. There would be no impressionism etc without photography. This is my premise and I am sticking to it.

04-19-2021, 08:38 AM	#182
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	Originally posted by Smolk I'd wonder whether too much automation kills the art of it all, but I guess you can say that of AF, P, etc Wasn't it photography that killed the art of painting? Wim Last edited by Ishpuini; 04-19-2021 at 11:05 PM.

04-20-2021, 03:38 AM	#194
totsmuyco Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Iloilo City Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,276	There are many feedback on the K-3III's AF.C. It's a great improvement over the previous models. I just hope the technology will be used in all future models. Maybe Pentax can attract new users. Last edited by totsmuyco; 04-21-2021 at 03:54 AM.

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04-19-2021, 08:14 AM	#181
Smolk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Eerbeek Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,857	I'd wonder whether too much automation kills the art of it all, but I guess you can say that of AF, P, etc

04-19-2021, 08:56 AM	#183
Smolk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Eerbeek Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,857	Some would still think so. There is however a subtle difference between art photos and photos for photographers

04-19-2021, 09:32 AM	#184
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	If one chooses photo instead of painting, there is something which can be due preferences. Photo has always been just a photo. Magic in fractions of a second. And photo necessarily is not art. Painting how ever usually is art. Even if it could be also done in fraction of a second. it is not apples to apples or even Apple to dog comparison. A dog or painter could combine both or all of that. Photographer could try to catch it.

04-19-2021, 02:18 PM - 1 Like	#185
wkraus Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Near Vienna, Austria Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,067	Originally posted by RobSpain Given that you use both cameras, APS-C and FF, can I ask you a question? It's regarding wide angle distortion when using wide angle lenses. Going back to the eighties I shot a lot of real estate photography on an LX with a 20mm SMC lens. I now shoot on a K-70 with a 10-20mm Sigma f/3.5 lens. As a point of comparison, to replicate 20mm using FF, I need to set the Sigma lens to about 13mm on the K-70. Although I manage to keep distortion to a minimum in my shots, using the built-in spirit level, I still notice that objects (furniture, etc.) close to the lens seem more distorted than when I used the LX + 20mm. So, do you find that a wide angle lens on a FF such as the K-1 performs better than one on an APS-C camera? Perspective is the one thing that is format-independent. It only depends on the orientation and position of your camera, plus the field of view of your lens that determines how much the camera will capture of the subject. However, distortion can matter quite a bit, which might explain differences between lenses with the sam field of view.

04-19-2021, 04:13 PM - 3 Likes	#187
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Haha... eye control AF..... that would be the end off me..... every photo from that point on would only have the pretty girl in the frame in focus..... "wife trouble focus" would be better name...... or "bad husband exposure" I'd just have to shoot everything at f16 I guess....

04-19-2021, 04:24 PM - 2 Likes	#188
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882	Originally posted by mtkeller When it passes with flying colors, they will accuse Pentax of specifically designing their AF tracking algorithms to excel at the zig zag bike test, declare the zig zag bike test invalid, and then contrive some other completely unrealistic tracking scenario at which they find a tiny amount of struggle for the K-3 iii and then declare it to be horrible because of that. Nooo, they'll do the bike test but paint the bike absolute grey (gray for non English spellers ) and spray paint the rider grey too. They need to test the RGB-IR sensor in parallel with the AF tracking.

04-19-2021, 10:37 PM	#190
MMVIII Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: EU Posts: 1,121	Originally posted by reh321 It does seem less awkward than finding - and moving - a 'joystick' around .... but this thread is about what Pentax does, not about what Canon does. As always when automatic systems will take decisions some will like it, some not. I assume (can't more without ever having tried it) that it would make me crazy if the AF point would follow the eyes pupil while looking through the viewfinder undiscriminating. If I do control the framing of a shot I dont want to have the focus follow that. Same for looking at the viewfinder info lcd line etc...

04-20-2021, 01:05 AM	#191
RobSpain Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Malaga province Posts: 494	Originally posted by wkraus Perspective is the one thing that is format-independent. It only depends on the orientation and position of your camera, plus the field of view of your lens that determines how much the camera will capture of the subject. However, distortion can matter quite a bit, which might explain differences between lenses with the sam field of view. Thanks for that! It was "...Perspective is the one thing that is format-independent." that I wasn't sure about.

04-20-2021, 01:08 AM	#192
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by MMVIII As always when automatic systems will take decisions some will like it, some not. I assume (can't more without ever having tried it) that it would make me crazy if the AF point would follow the eyes pupil while looking through the viewfinder undiscriminating. If I do control the framing of a shot I dont want to have the focus follow that. Same for looking at the viewfinder info lcd line etc... Absolutely, I can't imagine the madness this would be.

04-20-2021, 01:16 AM	#193
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Originally posted by gatorguy Check the 4:30 mark in this video PENTAX K-3 Mark III ?Impressions? Jin Qi - YouTube This is fantastic, yup. Even DPR are gonna have to concede that the camera has working AF now

04-20-2021, 04:20 AM	#195
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,327	Originally posted by Ishpuini Wasn't it photography that killed the art of painting? Wim No. Photography freed up painting to explore whole new methods of expression. No longer stuck to portrait and still life painting. There would be no impressionism etc without photography. This is my premise and I am sticking to it.