[bwDraco]

I've got an important question for those with a pre-production K-3.

In 27-point or 9-point AF mode, with a large subject such as a full-length portrait, how many points light up in the viewfinder at the same time? Is it still no more than 2, or can an arbitrary number of points be activated up to the selected number? Do the points need to be connected to each other for them to activate at the same time?

This is of interest to me as a sports photographer because it can greatly affect the camera's ability to track moving subjects. I wrote this a year and a half ago, when the original K-5 was still the flagship model:

[,,,] here's what Pentax can do to improve AF performance with moving subjects:

• Allow any number of AF points to work together, even if they are not connected to each other. This is the single most important thing Pentax can do to improve AF performance. It requires treating each point as a separate entity, yet allowing them to be used simultaneously in an arbitrary arrangement. Doing so eliminates many of the issues and limitations listed above and paves the way for much more advanced predictive tracking algorithms to be implemented. It may be possible to implement this for current cameras via a firmware update, but hardware limitations may prevent this from happening.

--DragonLord

[Adam]

I'll find out for you using a production camera on Friday

[repaap]

I'll find out for you using a production camera on Friday

Way cool! When is preview coming?

[Adam]

Way cool! When is preview coming?

I don't have a definitive publication date yet, but I'm hoping to have the video ready by Sunday.

Adam
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[7samurai]

Adam, that would be awesome. I can't wait to see the Pentax D400...

[Reltih]

In 27-point or 9-point AF mode, with a large subject such as a full-length portrait, how many points light up in the viewfinder at the same time? Is it still no more than 2, or can an arbitrary number of points be activated up to the selected number? Do the points need to be connected to each other for them to activate at the same time?

In this video, there are 3 focus points light up at the same time when shooting the butterfly.

You Tube

You Tube

[bwDraco]

In this video, there are 3 focus points light up at the same time when shooting the butterfly.

K 3 - YouTube

That's not exactly an indication of whether it is capable of simultaneously activating multiple non-connected points. This simply demonstrates the three high-precision f/2.8 points.

--DragonLord

[bwDraco]

It's now Friday. Any updates on AF behavior?

--DragonLord

[bwDraco]

@Adam, any updates? It's now Sunday.

--DragonLord

[7samurai]

i think i saw adam say he wasn't going to post any pictures of the pre 1.0 firmware because people were having heavy discussion over final specs. I suspect this might be impacting his review.

[kricha6431]

Does anybody know if the K-3 will have a cluster group of AF points for tracking? I know the D7100 is Progammable with ithink (don't quote me on this please) 9, 21, or 39 of the 51 AF points!
A cluster of 9 AF points would be nice on the K-3

[rawr]

Does anybody know if the K-3 will have a cluster group of AF points for tracking?

On flickr, there are some shots of the K-3 AF point selection options under AF-C. There certainly seems to be some 'clustering' happening there, and I presume that is to assist tracking.

[kricha6431]

On flickr, there are some shots of the K-3 AF point selection options under AF-C. There certainly seems to be some 'clustering' happening there, and I presume that is to assist tracking.

thanks for the info, that will help me a lot in deciding on the k-3

[mgbirder]

I just read an hands - on article in Spanish ( Pentax K-3: toma de contacto | Quesabesde ) which states that the AF tracking system is pretty capable but a little slow in starting up. But he only got to try a preproduction model also, so I hope that the official Firmware makes improvements on this aspect.