K-5 ii/iis or Pentax k-3 for me

kricha6431 · 10-30-2013, 02:22 PM

For any of you that have k-5 ii or iis and also bought the K-3!

Can you tell me if the AF is faster on the K-3 then it is on the k-5 ii / iis?
I have been reading up on reviews of the k-5 ii and iis, and so far I am pretty impressed and i THINKING SERISOUSLY on the k-5 ii and iis. The ony thing that would steer me toward the k-3 is faster AF, and that would be about the only thing other even better ISO!

Please inform on the AF of the K-3, anybody, after you've had time, of course!

Update: I am changing the heading to Pentax K-3 for me cause of the Pre Production Review, which said the AFon the K-3 is better then the K-5, That was all I wanted to hear, and I look forward to getting my hands on a K-3

Last edited by kricha6431; 10-31-2013 at 12:09 PM. Reason: updating

Adam · 10-30-2013, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by kricha6431

For any of you that have k-5 ii or iis and also bought the K-3!

Can you tell me if the AF is faster on the K-3 then it is on the k-5 ii / iis?
I have been reading up on reviews of the k-5 ii and iis, and so far I am pretty impressed and i THINKING SERISOUSLY on the k-5 ii and iis. The ony thing that would steer me toward the k-3 is faster AF, and that would be about the only thing other even better ISO!

Please inform on the AF of the K-3, anybody, after you've had time, of course!

Unless you do a lot of action shooting, the K-5 II should be just fine IMO.

A definitive verdict about the K-3's performance has yet to be made, however, but with the upcoming holiday season I'm sure the K-5 II's will drop under $700.

kricha6431 · 10-30-2013, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Unless you do a lot of action shooting, the K-5 II should be just fine IMO.

A definitive verdict about the K-3's performance has yet to be made, however, but with the upcoming holiday season I'm sure the K-5 II's will drop under $700.

thanks Adam!

rawr · 10-30-2013, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by kricha6431

if the AF is faster on the K-3 then it is on the k-5 ii / iis?

The K-3 should be faster, based on all the specs. But fast AF isn't just a camera issue.

If you put a lens with a slow focus motor, or long focus throw, or even just poor contrast (eg due to use of a UV filter) on a camera with a fast AF system in the body, the net result may still be slow AF.

Similarly if you shoot a scene with poor contrast in it, even the best camera body may be forced to hunt for something to lock onto. Hence the AF may appear slow. Etc.

There are many potential variables in 'slow' AF. Even a sports camera like the Nikon D4 might have slow AF if certain conditions aren't met.

asp1880 · 10-30-2013, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by kricha6431

The ony thing that would steer me toward the k-3 is faster AF

Don't forget the smaller AF points of the K-3.

Regards,
--Anders.

kricha6431 · 10-30-2013, 03:47 PM

Originally posted by asp1880

Don't forget the smaller AF points of the K-3.

Regards,
--Anders.

What do you mean, and why would smaller AF Points matter anyway, as it has a newer af system? please explain your point, please!

mccarvindh · 10-30-2013, 03:52 PM

Originally posted by kricha6431

What do you mean, and why would smaller AF Points matter anyway, as it has a newer af system? please explain your point, please!

Smaller sized AF points may mean improved precision on where the AF locks.

kricha6431 · 10-30-2013, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by mccarvindh

Smaller sized AF points may mean improved precision on where the AF locks.

that help explain why some are saying the k-3 will be a bit of jump from what previous Pentax Company was able to make! Which may also mean Ricoh is MORE SERIOUS, Thanks

kricha6431 · 10-30-2013, 04:20 PM

Let's put this scenerio into perspective:
there are 3 or Primes i am looking at, all are F2.8! 1. is the new 35mm HD Macro, 2. is 50mm Macro 3 is 100mm Macro
those are the I am most interested in becaus I like Macro, BUT they can be used for Portrait and other things! How would these as fast or slow AF?

rawr · 10-30-2013, 04:39 PM

I'd say all would be pretty fast. But with macro lenses you sometimes have to be aware of their long focus throw.

Most lens review sites have comments on focus speed and performance. Why not look those lenses up on a site like photozone.de, or browse the lens reviews section on Pentax forums to see what people say about the AF speed of those lenses.

kricha6431 · 10-30-2013, 05:06 PM

Originally posted by rawr

I'd say all would be pretty fast. But with macro lenses you sometimes have to be aware of their long focus throw.

Most lens review sites have comments on focus speed and performance. Why not look those lenses up on a site like photozone.de, or browse the lens reviews section on Pentax forums to see what people say about the AF speed of those lenses.

As I discorvered a long time ago with Film Cameras and Macro, it's always best to use Manual Focus anyway far better and faster focus because AF always wanted to hunt, My bad, I don't have my head screwed on right

JeremytheIndian · 10-31-2013, 12:11 AM

I'm in the same boat Kricha. I'm very tempted by the K-3 but part of me thinks a K-5 II or IIs would be a good enough upgrade from my K-5, especially considering the price drops that we may see on them. Might be hard to spend double the cash on the K-3 vs a K-5 II.

Cynog Ap Brychan · 10-31-2013, 04:59 AM

I would have happily bought the Pentax k-5 IIs, but for one thing. When the K-5 II and IIs were released, the price difference in the USA was $100 (about £70), but in the UK, the premium for removing the AA filter was £150, more than twice as much. It wasn't that I couldn't afford it: I wouldn't afford it because it smacked of another "rip off the Brits" scam to me. I had a K-5 and I stuck with that, but I bought a D800 to see what all the FF fuss was about (the 36 MP allows great cropping). So, Pentax lost a sale. Later the price differential narrowed to £120 (still too much in my opinion, but a little better), but by then the K-3 was being strongly rumoured, so I waited. I now have it on order. Now I notice that the difference between the II and IIs has gone back up to £150. Ah, well....

PBandJ · 10-31-2013, 05:40 AM

Originally posted by JeremytheIndian

I'm in the same boat Kricha. I'm very tempted by the K-3 but part of me thinks a K-5 II or IIs would be a good enough upgrade from my K-5, especially considering the price drops that we may see on them. Might be hard to spend double the cash on the K-3 vs a K-5 II.

Me too, I'm deciding between K5IIs, K-3 or D7100 or D600
I hope Adam will give us a helpful buyers guide!
Perhaps we could use some lenses like the 15 and 21 and 35 to judge focus-ability over the 3 aps-c bodies.

I also want to know if that new 86k metering system is worth getting the k3 for, or if 2k ( from the K5) does that same job?

johnmflores · 10-31-2013, 06:52 AM

I pre-ordered the silver K-3, and while part of me is wishing it would ship NOW! the other part is happy that it won't ship until the end of Nov. That gives me time to hear from others how big a step up the K-3 is versus the K-5iis. If it's not a huge step, I may cancel my K-3 order, get a K-5iis, and pocket the change. More than pixels of ISO, AF is the biggest thing for me.

10-30-2013, 02:22 PM	#1
kricha6431 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Silsbee, TX Posts: 91	K-5 ii/iis or Pentax k-3 for me For any of you that have k-5 ii or iis and also bought the K-3! Can you tell me if the AF is faster on the K-3 then it is on the k-5 ii / iis? I have been reading up on reviews of the k-5 ii and iis, and so far I am pretty impressed and i THINKING SERISOUSLY on the k-5 ii and iis. The ony thing that would steer me toward the k-3 is faster AF, and that would be about the only thing other even better ISO! Please inform on the AF of the K-3, anybody, after you've had time, of course! Update: I am changing the heading to Pentax K-3 for me cause of the Pre Production Review, which said the AFon the K-3 is better then the K-5, That was all I wanted to hear, and I look forward to getting my hands on a K-3 Last edited by kricha6431; 10-31-2013 at 12:09 PM. Reason: updating

10-30-2013, 02:25 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by kricha6431 For any of you that have k-5 ii or iis and also bought the K-3! Can you tell me if the AF is faster on the K-3 then it is on the k-5 ii / iis? I have been reading up on reviews of the k-5 ii and iis, and so far I am pretty impressed and i THINKING SERISOUSLY on the k-5 ii and iis. The ony thing that would steer me toward the k-3 is faster AF, and that would be about the only thing other even better ISO! Please inform on the AF of the K-3, anybody, after you've had time, of course! Unless you do a lot of action shooting, the K-5 II should be just fine IMO. A definitive verdict about the K-3's performance has yet to be made, however, but with the upcoming holiday season I'm sure the K-5 II's will drop under $700. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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10-30-2013, 02:34 PM	#3
kricha6431 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Silsbee, TX Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by Adam Unless you do a lot of action shooting, the K-5 II should be just fine IMO. A definitive verdict about the K-3's performance has yet to be made, however, but with the upcoming holiday season I'm sure the K-5 II's will drop under $700. thanks Adam!

10-30-2013, 03:18 PM	#4
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by kricha6431 if the AF is faster on the K-3 then it is on the k-5 ii / iis? The K-3 should be faster, based on all the specs. But fast AF isn't just a camera issue. If you put a lens with a slow focus motor, or long focus throw, or even just poor contrast (eg due to use of a UV filter) on a camera with a fast AF system in the body, the net result may still be slow AF. Similarly if you shoot a scene with poor contrast in it, even the best camera body may be forced to hunt for something to lock onto. Hence the AF may appear slow. Etc. There are many potential variables in 'slow' AF. Even a sports camera like the Nikon D4 might have slow AF if certain conditions aren't met.

10-30-2013, 03:28 PM	#5
asp1880 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lyngby, Copenhagen Photos: Albums Posts: 742	Originally posted by kricha6431 The ony thing that would steer me toward the k-3 is faster AF Don't forget the smaller AF points of the K-3. Regards, --Anders.

10-30-2013, 03:47 PM	#6
kricha6431 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Silsbee, TX Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by asp1880 Don't forget the smaller AF points of the K-3. Regards, --Anders. What do you mean, and why would smaller AF Points matter anyway, as it has a newer af system? please explain your point, please!

10-30-2013, 03:52 PM	#7
mccarvindh Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Photos: Gallery Posts: 478	Originally posted by kricha6431 What do you mean, and why would smaller AF Points matter anyway, as it has a newer af system? please explain your point, please! Smaller sized AF points may mean improved precision on where the AF locks.

10-30-2013, 04:01 PM	#8
kricha6431 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Silsbee, TX Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by mccarvindh Smaller sized AF points may mean improved precision on where the AF locks. that help explain why some are saying the k-3 will be a bit of jump from what previous Pentax Company was able to make! Which may also mean Ricoh is MORE SERIOUS, Thanks

10-30-2013, 04:20 PM	#9
kricha6431 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Silsbee, TX Posts: 91 Original Poster	Let's put this scenerio into perspective: there are 3 or Primes i am looking at, all are F2.8! 1. is the new 35mm HD Macro, 2. is 50mm Macro 3 is 100mm Macro those are the I am most interested in becaus I like Macro, BUT they can be used for Portrait and other things! How would these as fast or slow AF?

10-30-2013, 04:39 PM	#10
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	I'd say all would be pretty fast. But with macro lenses you sometimes have to be aware of their long focus throw. Most lens review sites have comments on focus speed and performance. Why not look those lenses up on a site like photozone.de, or browse the lens reviews section on Pentax forums to see what people say about the AF speed of those lenses.

10-30-2013, 05:06 PM	#11
kricha6431 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Silsbee, TX Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by rawr I'd say all would be pretty fast. But with macro lenses you sometimes have to be aware of their long focus throw. Most lens review sites have comments on focus speed and performance. Why not look those lenses up on a site like photozone.de, or browse the lens reviews section on Pentax forums to see what people say about the AF speed of those lenses. As I discorvered a long time ago with Film Cameras and Macro, it's always best to use Manual Focus anyway far better and faster focus because AF always wanted to hunt, My bad, I don't have my head screwed on right

10-31-2013, 12:11 AM	#12
JeremytheIndian Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 121	I'm in the same boat Kricha. I'm very tempted by the K-3 but part of me thinks a K-5 II or IIs would be a good enough upgrade from my K-5, especially considering the price drops that we may see on them. Might be hard to spend double the cash on the K-3 vs a K-5 II.

10-31-2013, 04:59 AM	#13
Cynog Ap Brychan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Gloucester Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	I would have happily bought the Pentax k-5 IIs, but for one thing. When the K-5 II and IIs were released, the price difference in the USA was $100 (about £70), but in the UK, the premium for removing the AA filter was £150, more than twice as much. It wasn't that I couldn't afford it: I wouldn't afford it because it smacked of another "rip off the Brits" scam to me. I had a K-5 and I stuck with that, but I bought a D800 to see what all the FF fuss was about (the 36 MP allows great cropping). So, Pentax lost a sale. Later the price differential narrowed to £120 (still too much in my opinion, but a little better), but by then the K-3 was being strongly rumoured, so I waited. I now have it on order. Now I notice that the difference between the II and IIs has gone back up to £150. Ah, well....

10-31-2013, 05:40 AM	#14
PBandJ Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Washington DC metro area Photos: Gallery Posts: 480	Originally posted by JeremytheIndian I'm in the same boat Kricha. I'm very tempted by the K-3 but part of me thinks a K-5 II or IIs would be a good enough upgrade from my K-5, especially considering the price drops that we may see on them. Might be hard to spend double the cash on the K-3 vs a K-5 II. Me too, I'm deciding between K5IIs, K-3 or D7100 or D600 I hope Adam will give us a helpful buyers guide! Perhaps we could use some lenses like the 15 and 21 and 35 to judge focus-ability over the 3 aps-c bodies. I also want to know if that new 86k metering system is worth getting the k3 for, or if 2k ( from the K5) does that same job?

10-31-2013, 06:52 AM	#15
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	I pre-ordered the silver K-3, and while part of me is wishing it would ship NOW! the other part is happy that it won't ship until the end of Nov. That gives me time to hear from others how big a step up the K-3 is versus the K-5iis. If it's not a huge step, I may cancel my K-3 order, get a K-5iis, and pocket the change. More than pixels of ISO, AF is the biggest thing for me.