Sports Images with the K-3

**mattb123** · 08-19-2014, 09:44 PM - **1 Like**

I witnessed some great suffering today on Kebler Pass in the USA Pro Challenge. The skies really opened up and I was sure happy to have WR lenses today (DA* 60-250, DA* 16-50 that I just got).
For the wide ones I used a Metz 58 af-2 that I wrapped in a plastic bag. All the gear seemed to survive ok!

The leader who eventually won. I thought they wouldn't let him get away but he got away!
DA* 16-50

Main Peleton
DA* 60-250

DA* 16-50, Metz 58 af-2

asp1880 · 08-20-2014, 01:41 AM

Gravel roads and rain. Brutal. I'd fear the descents at race speeds under those circumstances.

Good use of flash, Matt. When the foreground is in flashing range, it's just so much better and easier than messing with the fill light sliders in post.
Perhaps you should get one of the new Pentax flashes, they're weathersealed.

Regards,
--Anders.

dosdan · 08-20-2014, 04:03 AM - **2 Likes**

Some mud wrestling aka U13 soccer shots. Taken with a K-3 & DA* 60-250/F4. Including half-time and setup, the photographic gear was in the rain for 80 mins.

The spider webs in the gear shot below are rain drops at 1/50s, f/7.1, ISO80

All further shots: 1/1000s, f/4

Dan.

rawr · 08-20-2014, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by dosdan

the photographic gear was in the rain for 80 mins.

Not only the gear, but the poor photographer too.

Some cool shots despite the weather.

**mattb123** · 08-20-2014, 07:28 AM

Originally posted by asp1880

Gravel roads and rain. Brutal. I'd fear the descents at race speeds under those circumstances.

Good use of flash, Matt. When the foreground is in flashing range, it's just so much better and easier than messing with the fill light sliders in post.
Perhaps you should get one of the new Pentax flashes, they're weathersealed.

Regards,
--Anders.

Thanks, it's definitely my preferred method if I'm in a situation where I can bring and use the flash.
I wouldn't mind one of those Pentax flashes but wow, they are expensive. Maybe one day.

Today I have a moto spot which will be fun. Time to get the plastic bags out again!

asp1880 · 08-20-2014, 03:09 PM - **1 Like**

My first sports (sort of) outing with my new K-3.

Shot with the DA* 50-135 at 135mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 800.
No post, no crop, just resize.

The AF-C is better than with the K-5. When you manage to keep the focus point fixed on the same
spot, the camera will adjust the focus for every shot in the burst. The K-5 didn't do this nearly as
well.

Now I can even shoot sports well with the 50-135. That's saying something.

Regards,
--Anders.

Khoff2 · 08-21-2014, 05:46 AM

That is an impressive shot

Alex Nostalgix · 08-21-2014, 11:53 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by asp1880

My first sports (sort of) outing with my new K-3.
Now I can even shoot sports well with the 50-135. That's saying something.

Regards,
--Anders.

**mattb123** · 08-22-2014, 10:13 AM

Yeah, nice one asp1880!

Here's a little more cycling on the next stage which I got to ride a motorcycle in. Hard to get the shots!
I brought the K-3 and K-5 with my new DA* 16-50 on the K-3.

Last night I was getting some shots for a local client and noticed I had a bug squashed into the threads of the hood on the 16-50 that we must have hit it on the moto!
I hadn't ever seen that before.

Shooting from a motorcycle on a curvy mountain pass is hard! I think I got about a 20% keeper rate which is pretty low for me.

I also had the dreaded mirror flap happen while on the bike. It flapped for a few seconds and then the camera locked up. This was a few shots after replacing the battery while we were stopped. So I had to do a battery pull while flying down the highway. I was really scared my battery, which was my last full one was going to eject and I'd drop it into a bike race. Luckily I managed to pull and replace the battery without incident and I had no more flops or locks. I really hope this new firmware addresses the issue. It's one thing to have to pull the battery when shooting landscapes and entirely another thing when I'm going 60 on a motorcycle!

**jbinpg** · 08-22-2014, 02:33 PM

Dicking around with the K-3 battery while on a motorcycle. Now that is dedication. Some would say insanity

**Canada_Rockies** · 08-22-2014, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by jbinpg

Dicking around with the K-3 battery while on a motorcycle. Now that is dedication. Some would say insanity

Others would say bravery.

asp1880 · 08-22-2014, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by Khoff2

That is an impressive shot

Thanks. I made a poster out of it last night at an online printing shop, to hang in the clubhouse. I hope it comes out okay.

Regards,
--Anders.

**mattb123** · 08-22-2014, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by jbinpg

Dicking around with the K-3 battery while on a motorcycle. Now that is dedication. Some would say insanity

It was a calculated risk. Did I mention I was a passenger?
I was just glad I realized that is what happened and was able to address it before missing any important shots!

I think the incident also highlights how this issue could be a big problem for a pro in the heat of the moment.

rawr · 08-22-2014, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

I think the incident also highlights how this issue could be a big problem for a pro in the heat of the moment.

Indeed. It would be even more hassle (read 'risk') if you had the grip attached at the time.

My first K-3 glitch happened while shooting a car rally the other week with grip attached. It wasn't a 'flap', but a freeze. The camera would shoot, but the rear LCD was stuck on playback, and the camera wouldn't turn on or off. It required grip removal, then battery drop, then restart, but at least I was standing still.

**jbinpg** · 08-22-2014, 07:58 PM

Ah, I missed the part about you being a passenger. Lowers the risk immensely but still a risk. Great shots, btw, Matt.

Jack

08-19-2014, 09:44 PM - 1 Like	#181
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	I witnessed some great suffering today on Kebler Pass in the USA Pro Challenge. The skies really opened up and I was sure happy to have WR lenses today (DA* 60-250, DA* 16-50 that I just got). For the wide ones I used a Metz 58 af-2 that I wrapped in a plastic bag. All the gear seemed to survive ok! The leader who eventually won. I thought they wouldn't let him get away but he got away! DA* 16-50 Main Peleton DA* 60-250 DA* 16-50, Metz 58 af-2 DA* 16-50, Metz 58 af-2

08-20-2014, 04:03 AM - 2 Likes	#183
dosdan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,741	Some mud wrestling aka U13 soccer shots. Taken with a K-3 & DA* 60-250/F4. Including half-time and setup, the photographic gear was in the rain for 80 mins. The spider webs in the gear shot below are rain drops at 1/50s, f/7.1, ISO80 All further shots: 1/1000s, f/4 Dan. Last edited by dosdan; 08-21-2014 at 08:20 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K-3 for sports?	WillWeaverRVA	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	20	07-02-2015 08:02 AM
Pentax K-3 test images with AA filter on and off	hkiran1	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	29	11-13-2014 08:27 AM
The K-3 -APS-c and cropped wildlife images	normhead	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	39	10-16-2013 10:57 AM
First Try Shooting Sports with the K-30	Urkeldaedalus	Pentax K-30 & K-50	40	02-18-2013 12:47 AM
Sports with the K-5 II or IIs	HawaiianOnline	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	13	01-25-2013 09:05 PM

08-20-2014, 01:41 AM	#182
asp1880 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lyngby, Copenhagen Photos: Albums Posts: 742	Gravel roads and rain. Brutal. I'd fear the descents at race speeds under those circumstances. Good use of flash, Matt. When the foreground is in flashing range, it's just so much better and easier than messing with the fill light sliders in post. Perhaps you should get one of the new Pentax flashes, they're weathersealed. Regards, --Anders.

08-20-2014, 07:20 AM	#184
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by dosdan the photographic gear was in the rain for 80 mins. Not only the gear, but the poor photographer too. Some cool shots despite the weather.

08-20-2014, 07:28 AM	#185
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Originally posted by asp1880 Gravel roads and rain. Brutal. I'd fear the descents at race speeds under those circumstances. Good use of flash, Matt. When the foreground is in flashing range, it's just so much better and easier than messing with the fill light sliders in post. Perhaps you should get one of the new Pentax flashes, they're weathersealed. Regards, --Anders. Thanks, it's definitely my preferred method if I'm in a situation where I can bring and use the flash. I wouldn't mind one of those Pentax flashes but wow, they are expensive. Maybe one day. Today I have a moto spot which will be fun. Time to get the plastic bags out again!

08-20-2014, 03:09 PM - 1 Like	#186
asp1880 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lyngby, Copenhagen Photos: Albums Posts: 742	My first sports (sort of) outing with my new K-3. Shot with the DA* 50-135 at 135mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 800. No post, no crop, just resize. The AF-C is better than with the K-5. When you manage to keep the focus point fixed on the same spot, the camera will adjust the focus for every shot in the burst. The K-5 didn't do this nearly as well. Now I can even shoot sports well with the 50-135. That's saying something. Regards, --Anders.

08-21-2014, 05:46 AM	#187
Khoff2 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 84	That is an impressive shot

08-21-2014, 11:53 PM - 1 Like	#188
Alex Nostalgix Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 60	Originally posted by asp1880 My first sports (sort of) outing with my new K-3. Now I can even shoot sports well with the 50-135. That's saying something. Regards, --Anders.

08-22-2014, 10:13 AM	#189
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Yeah, nice one asp1880! Here's a little more cycling on the next stage which I got to ride a motorcycle in. Hard to get the shots! I brought the K-3 and K-5 with my new DA* 16-50 on the K-3. Last night I was getting some shots for a local client and noticed I had a bug squashed into the threads of the hood on the 16-50 that we must have hit it on the moto! I hadn't ever seen that before. Shooting from a motorcycle on a curvy mountain pass is hard! I think I got about a 20% keeper rate which is pretty low for me. I also had the dreaded mirror flap happen while on the bike. It flapped for a few seconds and then the camera locked up. This was a few shots after replacing the battery while we were stopped. So I had to do a battery pull while flying down the highway. I was really scared my battery, which was my last full one was going to eject and I'd drop it into a bike race. Luckily I managed to pull and replace the battery without incident and I had no more flops or locks. I really hope this new firmware addresses the issue. It's one thing to have to pull the battery when shooting landscapes and entirely another thing when I'm going 60 on a motorcycle!

08-22-2014, 02:33 PM	#190
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Dicking around with the K-3 battery while on a motorcycle. Now that is dedication. Some would say insanity

08-22-2014, 02:35 PM	#191
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by jbinpg Dicking around with the K-3 battery while on a motorcycle. Now that is dedication. Some would say insanity Others would say bravery.

08-22-2014, 02:36 PM	#192
asp1880 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lyngby, Copenhagen Photos: Albums Posts: 742	Originally posted by Khoff2 That is an impressive shot Thanks. I made a poster out of it last night at an online printing shop, to hang in the clubhouse. I hope it comes out okay. Regards, --Anders.

08-22-2014, 02:46 PM	#193
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Originally posted by jbinpg Dicking around with the K-3 battery while on a motorcycle. Now that is dedication. Some would say insanity It was a calculated risk. Did I mention I was a passenger? I was just glad I realized that is what happened and was able to address it before missing any important shots! I think the incident also highlights how this issue could be a big problem for a pro in the heat of the moment.

08-22-2014, 05:27 PM	#194
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by mattb123 I think the incident also highlights how this issue could be a big problem for a pro in the heat of the moment. Indeed. It would be even more hassle (read 'risk') if you had the grip attached at the time. My first K-3 glitch happened while shooting a car rally the other week with grip attached. It wasn't a 'flap', but a freeze. The camera would shoot, but the rear LCD was stuck on playback, and the camera wouldn't turn on or off. It required grip removal, then battery drop, then restart, but at least I was standing still.

08-22-2014, 07:58 PM	#195
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Ah, I missed the part about you being a passenger. Lowers the risk immensely but still a risk. Great shots, btw, Matt. Jack