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10-13-2014, 08:29 PM   #1
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K3 or Nikon D7100

Just wonder which is fastest/most accurate for auto focus?? Have the K5II now,but need more resolutirn for cropping birds,and really want the new 150-600 Sigma or Tamron. I have the DA*300 + 1.4 TC now & wonder would I be better off with the Nikon & 150-600 lens??
if anyone has experience in this, am glad to get some help
I know 'maybe' Pentax releases a 400mm zoom,but when is the question

10-13-2014, 08:47 PM - 1 Like   #2
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Nikon still has better AF. The two cameras are neck an neck overall IMO, as each has its strengths and weaknesses. If you're currently invested in the Pentax system, then I would recommend going with the Pentax, though.

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10-13-2014, 08:59 PM   #3
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Adam, has both - he'd know! :-D
10-13-2014, 09:19 PM   #4
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If I was to go Nikon it would be for their excellent VR 300 2.8. The D7100 drives it quite well. For the lower end zooms the sigma 150-500 is pretty good. You won't get real good autofocus with slow lenses no matter what body.

10-13-2014, 09:32 PM - 1 Like   #5
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Brand issues aside, how important is shooting birds & wildlife to your photography? Is it among the most important subjects for you, or is it just going to be a side thing to something more important. I think it is critical to determine these kind of requirements prior to choosing a solution.

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10-13-2014, 11:04 PM   #6
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I feel Nikon has dummed their mid range cameras down so they don't compete with their professional cameras. It so much nicer using a pentax and being able to make all your changes at your finger tips. Unless you intend to get one of the really serious Nikon primes, I wouldn't think there is a great deal of difference.

With the zoom you want to buy, you will find that you will triple your bird keepers by going manual on the camera settings and using flash in manual. Much much easier to use a pentax in manual.

I'm thinking that your 300 and 1.4 TC while it could be a bit slow auto focusing could be just as good resolution as the zooms even with the zooms extra reach.
10-14-2014, 03:05 AM - 1 Like   #7
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I think with regard to auto focus they are pretty close, but tracking auto focus is where the D7100 is still better than the K3. Not to say the K3 is bad, the D7100 is just better.

10-14-2014, 03:34 AM   #8
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Thom Hogan had a very interesting article recently on using the D7100 for shooting african wildlife - coupled with the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 lens. He describes a good all round proficiency of this combination - not the best at everything, but good enough and providing flexibility as well. The article is well worth the read given your current considerations.

Pentax just doesn't have a lens like this right now, with the Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 being the closest. Coupled with a TC that might get you there using a Pentax.

I agree with the comments above regarding the bodies - in my opinion the K3 is the better all round camera, the Nikon has better tracking AF.

Best wishes with your decisions

Ross
10-14-2014, 05:17 AM   #9
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And is weather resistance important in the kind of wildlife shooting you do? If so, for shots within range of a 300mm lens (and environments that aren't too dark), the K-3 plus WR 55-300 is an excellent, lightweight combo. I took that set-up to Borneo earlier this year and was really pleased with the results. (That said, I do wish I'd had faster glass and more reach for some of the photos.)
10-14-2014, 05:42 AM   #10
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I own a D7100 at the moment and will buy a K3 in the next time because WR and Astro Tracing helps me a lot with my type of shooting and the 8.3 FPS with large buffer on the K3 are the killer for the D7100. If you shoot any Kind of Sport/Wildlive etc. WR and FPS/Buffer on the D7100 simply suck.
10-14-2014, 06:50 AM   #11
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Pentax DA 560?
10-14-2014, 07:19 AM   #12
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I own a Nikon D800 system and tried pairing a rented D7100 with it and found the D7100 wanting in terms of overall performance (image quality was fine). I've also owned a D7000 and rented lots of other cameras never quite finding a "smaller" camera with more reach. Until the K-3 came along. This is the D400 that Nikon should have produced. So now I use a D800 and a K-3 together and have created a system that works for me. I will likely upgrade to the D810 at some point. I doubt I would purchase a D400 at this point if Nikon were to introduce one. Mostly because I cannot see Nikon ever selling an equivalent to the exceptional DA* 60-250mm which is the prime lens I use with my K-3.

YMMV

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10-14-2014, 08:43 AM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Shanti Quote
Just wonder which is fastest/most accurate for auto focus?? Have the K5II now,but need more resolutirn for cropping birds,and really want the new 150-600 Sigma or Tamron. I have the DA*300 + 1.4 TC now & wonder would I be better off with the Nikon & 150-600 lens??
if anyone has experience in this, am glad to get some help
I know 'maybe' Pentax releases a 400mm zoom,but when is the question
Part of the problem is that Pentax lenses just aren't as fast. I think that is the limiting factor in AF speed for the K-3. Nikon lens AF motors are faster. The new Sigma HSM is faster than the older HSM. Part of the reason i bought the Sigma 50mm over the DA* 55mm was the Sigma HSM was noticeably faster. Just played with a new Sigma 50mm Art on a 5DIII and it was really fast. If differs from lens to lens, but SDM is not that fast. The new DC motors they are using now seem to be very fast, but only a few lenses have the new DC motors.

A lot of your speed and accuracy is going to be lens based, so you need to base your decision on what lens you want to use, not what body.
10-14-2014, 09:12 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by JohnX Quote
Pentax DA 560?
It only costs 7x what the 150-600 costs. Why not?
10-14-2014, 10:06 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by boriscleto Quote
It only costs 7x what the 150-600 costs. Why not?
OP never mentioned budget constraints.
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