Will the K-3 keep me from switching to Nikon

derekkite · 12-10-2014, 08:57 PM

Originally posted by Stargeezer

Yup!!!!!! I am so happy with the K-3.
I have had less then a week but It took me 2 shots to realize this is a keeper. Both were in focus, something my K-5 could not do.

Its amazes me that I stuck with the K-5 for 2 years. The only thing that kept me in was the da*300 that I have owned for 5 years. I love that lens.

The Keeper rate for the k-5 was probably 20%. No, heck no maybe 5% and I am talking focus keeper rate not quality image keeper rate.
My K-x and even the k-10d had a much more competent autofocus single. If the k-x locked focus I knew I was good to go.

My frustration with the K-5 was overwhelming. Front focus, back focus, double image. Manual focus did not help because my eyes were not good enough.
Of course If i relied on the in focus beep the images would still not be in focus.
It took all the fun out of photography.
I sent it to Pentax with my lenses for repair and it came back the same. Maybe improvement over how bad out of focus images were but still out of focus. Ugh.

Depressing, but I still went for long walks every week with camera in hand. Its my therapy, my cigs, my alcohol.
And maybe I would end up with an image I liked. Maybe! I mean image quality was real good if I could get a focused image.

There Are 5 things I really Like about the K-3, Auto focus, autofocus, autofocus, autofocus, and image quality.
With an added bonus of a significantly brighter viewfinder (I could even use Manual focus if I wanted to) and Lcd screen.

And so here I am. Living Happily ever after with my Pentax and I don't have to start drinking, smoking or therapy?
Joe

The K3 makes the DA*300 seem like a new lens. I barely used it with the K5, the focus was so frustrating.

cbope · 12-11-2014, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by derekkite

The K3 makes the DA*300 seem like a new lens. I barely used it with the K5, the focus was so frustrating.

Happy to hear that. I ordered a K-3 this week as an upgrade to my K-5, mostly because of the AF improvements. Sadly, I don't have the DA* 300, yet...

JeremytheIndian · 12-14-2014, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by derekkite

The K3 makes the DA*300 seem like a new lens. I barely used it with the K5, the focus was so frustrating.

I get my K3 this week from BH. (That sub-$800 US price point with a grip got me) I am hoping that it will breathe new life into my DA* 50-135. The K5 and the DA* had the ability to give me absolutely stunning photos but it was also absolutely frustrating in terms of AF speed and accuracy. Can't wait

**monochrome** · 12-14-2014, 10:47 AM

Only you can keep you from switching.

**jatrax** · 12-14-2014, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by monochrome

Only you can keep you from switching.

Friends don't let friends switch?

**Spodeworld** · 12-16-2014, 07:46 AM

How do you find the K-3's autofocus compares to the Nikon's?

**MJSfoto1956** · 12-16-2014, 08:18 AM

I found that the D7000 and D7100 to be not as good wrt AF as Nikon's "pro" series cameras (which are exceptional). Even the old D700 is better. The K-3 is at least as good in everyday shooting as the D5200/D7000/D7100 series from my own hands-on experience having used all those cameras extensively. Perhaps you can devise a scenario where X is better than Y, but for everyday shooting they appear to be roughly equivalent. I would actually go out on a limb and say the K-3 is slightly better.

YMMV

Michael

**MJSfoto1956** · 12-16-2014, 09:44 AM

the D750 is probably somewhere between the D4 and the D7100 wrt AF.
I guess my question to you is what is your use case for requiring the best AF out there over other sexy features?

Michael

**Spodeworld** · 12-16-2014, 05:24 PM

That's interesting info. I have a D7000, so that can act as a benchmark. I expect the K3 to be every bit as good as the D7000 in stationary subjects, or maybe better. But I wasn't sure if I should expect it to rival it in focusing on moving objects.

Originally posted by MJSfoto1956

I found that the D7000 and D7100 to be not as good wrt AF as Nikon's "pro" series cameras (which are exceptional). Even the old D700 is better. The K-3 is at least as good in everyday shooting as the D5200/D7000/D7100 series from my own hands-on experience having used all those cameras extensively. Perhaps you can devise a scenario where X is better than Y, but for everyday shooting they appear to be roughly equivalent. I would actually go out on a limb and say the K-3 is slightly better.

YMMV

Michael

derekkite · 12-16-2014, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by Spodeworld

That's interesting info. I have a D7000, so that can act as a benchmark. I expect the K3 to be every bit as good as the D7000 in stationary subjects, or maybe better. But I wasn't sure if I should expect it to rival it in focusing on moving objects.

Where Pentax falls down is in the lenses. The DA*300 is sharp and very nice rendering, but the focus is not very fast. It is accurate, and on the K3 quite nice.

12-14-2014, 10:42 AM	#18
JeremytheIndian Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 121	Originally posted by derekkite The K3 makes the DA300 seem like a new lens. I barely used it with the K5, the focus was so frustrating. I get my K3 this week from BH. (That sub-$800 US price point with a grip got me) I am hoping that it will breathe new life into my DA 50-135. The K5 and the DA* had the ability to give me absolutely stunning photos but it was also absolutely frustrating in terms of AF speed and accuracy. Can't wait Last edited by JeremytheIndian; 12-14-2014 at 10:50 AM.

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12-10-2014, 08:57 PM	#16
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by Stargeezer Yup!!!!!! I am so happy with the K-3. I have had less then a week but It took me 2 shots to realize this is a keeper. Both were in focus, something my K-5 could not do. Its amazes me that I stuck with the K-5 for 2 years. The only thing that kept me in was the da300 that I have owned for 5 years. I love that lens. The Keeper rate for the k-5 was probably 20%. No, heck no maybe 5% and I am talking focus keeper rate not quality image keeper rate. My K-x and even the k-10d had a much more competent autofocus single. If the k-x locked focus I knew I was good to go. My frustration with the K-5 was overwhelming. Front focus, back focus, double image. Manual focus did not help because my eyes were not good enough. Of course If i relied on the in focus beep the images would still not be in focus. It took all the fun out of photography. I sent it to Pentax with my lenses for repair and it came back the same. Maybe improvement over how bad out of focus images were but still out of focus. Ugh. Depressing, but I still went for long walks every week with camera in hand. Its my therapy, my cigs, my alcohol. And maybe I would end up with an image I liked. Maybe! I mean image quality was real good if I could get a focused image. There Are 5 things I really Like about the K-3, Auto focus, autofocus, autofocus, autofocus, and image quality. With an added bonus of a significantly brighter viewfinder (I could even use Manual focus if I wanted to) and Lcd screen. And so here I am. Living Happily ever after with my Pentax and I don't have to start drinking, smoking or therapy? Joe The K3 makes the DA300 seem like a new lens. I barely used it with the K5, the focus was so frustrating.

12-11-2014, 01:02 PM	#17
cbope Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Helsinki Posts: 664	Originally posted by derekkite The K3 makes the DA300 seem like a new lens. I barely used it with the K5, the focus was so frustrating. Happy to hear that. I ordered a K-3 this week as an upgrade to my K-5, mostly because of the AF improvements. Sadly, I don't have the DA 300, yet...

12-14-2014, 10:47 AM	#19
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Only you can keep you from switching.

12-14-2014, 11:18 AM	#20
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by monochrome Only you can keep you from switching. Friends don't let friends switch?

12-16-2014, 07:46 AM	#21
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370	How do you find the K-3's autofocus compares to the Nikon's?

12-16-2014, 08:18 AM	#22
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305	I found that the D7000 and D7100 to be not as good wrt AF as Nikon's "pro" series cameras (which are exceptional). Even the old D700 is better. The K-3 is at least as good in everyday shooting as the D5200/D7000/D7100 series from my own hands-on experience having used all those cameras extensively. Perhaps you can devise a scenario where X is better than Y, but for everyday shooting they appear to be roughly equivalent. I would actually go out on a limb and say the K-3 is slightly better. YMMV Michael

12-16-2014, 09:44 AM	#23
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305	the D750 is probably somewhere between the D4 and the D7100 wrt AF. I guess my question to you is what is your use case for requiring the best AF out there over other sexy features? Michael

12-16-2014, 05:24 PM	#24
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370	That's interesting info. I have a D7000, so that can act as a benchmark. I expect the K3 to be every bit as good as the D7000 in stationary subjects, or maybe better. But I wasn't sure if I should expect it to rival it in focusing on moving objects. Originally posted by MJSfoto1956 I found that the D7000 and D7100 to be not as good wrt AF as Nikon's "pro" series cameras (which are exceptional). Even the old D700 is better. The K-3 is at least as good in everyday shooting as the D5200/D7000/D7100 series from my own hands-on experience having used all those cameras extensively. Perhaps you can devise a scenario where X is better than Y, but for everyday shooting they appear to be roughly equivalent. I would actually go out on a limb and say the K-3 is slightly better. YMMV Michael

12-16-2014, 07:11 PM	#25
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by Spodeworld That's interesting info. I have a D7000, so that can act as a benchmark. I expect the K3 to be every bit as good as the D7000 in stationary subjects, or maybe better. But I wasn't sure if I should expect it to rival it in focusing on moving objects. Where Pentax falls down is in the lenses. The DA*300 is sharp and very nice rendering, but the focus is not very fast. It is accurate, and on the K3 quite nice.