The K-3 and K3II are just hard to beat!

Qwntm · 12-08-2015, 06:08 PM - **3 Likes**

So since the fall bridal show we did in October, I have been getting serious regarding what cameras I'm going to shoot 25 weddings with in 2016. Add to that a need for 36MP or better resolution for 30x40 and 40x60 prints for art shows which I am also gearing up for and the list of system candidates grows thinner and thinner. As some of you know I actually tried the Canon 6D and 7DMII because of the lenses. (The lenses were great!) But it is not just internet chatter: the sensors are behind in tech. There was a significant reduction in my image quality from the 24mp (and 16mp K5IIs) to the Canon sensors. Shots that should have been easy, were not usable.

So that left Nikon. D810, check. $2800, check. Could I buy a K3II AND 16-50 AND 50-135 for $2250? Yup. Wow. compared to Nikon those prices are almost use them and throw them away...

Landscapes with Pixel Shift are a done deal. I see 90% of what I want to shoot being done with Pixel Shift. The other 10% I will "put up" with "only" 24mp's of non PS resolution and color.

LOL.

Weddings? No sweat. Vello even makes a $15 off camera cord for flash for Pentax now!

So videos are coming of my new/old Pentax system and how I'm going to make it work for me going full time pro again in 2016. Heck if people can make the Fuji system work for this stuff, Pentax is a no brainer!

Just thought I'd share.

(P.S. all the work on the new wedding sight was from 10 years ago with Canon 20D's, can't wait to update that stuff!)

bertwert · 12-08-2015, 06:13 PM

One of the reasons I have Pentax is the cheap price!

stevebrot · 12-08-2015, 06:29 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by bertwert

One of the reasons I have Pentax is the cheap price!

Shhhhhush! We don't use the "C" word around here. "High value" is the preferred term.

Steve

Qwntm · 12-08-2015, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Shhhhhush! We don't use the "C" word around here. "High value" is the preferred term.

Steve

So Black Friday pricing is always a treat and this year has been really good, but even before Black Friday, the MAP went away and Pentax was a player again. The HD 15mm LTD at $399.95, DA* 16-50 SDM at $699.95 and DA* 50-135 SDM at $795.96 are particularly tasty!

$742.12 from Amazon for a K3II is ridiculous considering it's best in class overall and what they want for anything else.

All that's not just high value, THAT'S CHEAP!!

Bwahahahaahahaa...

Imp · 12-08-2015, 07:54 PM

Glad to hear new videos are coming out! I'm excited to hear what you've found in trading the 70-200 f/4 L for the HD DA 55-300. That's the video i've most anticipated since your last one! I'm also curious, as a side note, what you'd think of the DA* 60-250 f/4 vs. the Canon 70-200 f/4 IS... your two cents?

Wired · 12-08-2015, 09:02 PM

I used my K3 second shooting a handful of weddings last year. It was pretty good. My only concern was off camera flash outside trying to get over 1/180" flash sync... but usually not a problem at weddings!

MadMathMind · 12-08-2015, 09:13 PM

Originally posted by Wired

My only concern was off camera flash outside trying to get over 1/180" flash sync... but usually not a problem at weddings!

A bit confused, since it's not like anyone else offers a much higher sync. I think Nikon is 1/250 on their good models. Canon is 1/200.

howieb101 · 12-08-2015, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by Wired

I used my K3 second shooting a handful of weddings last year. It was pretty good. My only concern was off camera flash outside trying to get over 1/180" flash sync... but usually not a problem at weddings!

HSS not an option?

aleonx3 · 12-08-2015, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by MadMathMind

A bit confused, since it's not like anyone else offers a much higher sync. I think Nikon is 1/250 on their good models. Canon is 1/200.

I agree that it would be nice if Pentax has a higher flash sync speed... however, I have yet to find that a limitation and I use flash a lot since I shoot weddings, birthday and events. And for outdoor fill flash, I use HSS as an option if I need but I find that I rarely need it.

Davidparis · 12-08-2015, 11:22 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Shhhhhush! We don't use the "C" word around here. "High value" is the preferred term.

Steve

Yep, I don't do cheap either, I do high-value.

Qwntm · 12-08-2015, 11:25 PM

Originally posted by Wired

I used my K3 second shooting a handful of weddings last year. It was pretty good. My only concern was off camera flash outside trying to get over 1/180" flash sync... but usually not a problem at weddings!

I need to do a video on flash...

HSS is a tool used to achieve a certain look, mostly done these days by people who own Fuji X100's which have a leaf shutter and native HSS built in.

If your outside and have tons of light to the point where 1/180th is a problem, you don't need flash but a diffuser or a reflector. (And an assistant.

) Neewer makes a 43inch kit that includes a gold, silver black and translucent reflector/diffuser just for this kind of situation.

there is no wrong or right here, but I can tell you, I am going to be seriously limiting the amount of flash I use from now on at weddings. 3200 ISO and fast prime lenses are the trick for the darker situations and F2.8 and diffusion and reflection with adequate ambient light is the plan. Flash only when necessary.

---------- Post added 12-08-15 at 11:31 PM ----------

Originally posted by Imp

Glad to hear new videos are coming out! I'm excited to hear what you've found in trading the 70-200 f/4 L for the HD DA 55-300. That's the video i've most anticipated since your last one! I'm also curious, as a side note, what you'd think of the DA* 60-250 f/4 vs. the Canon 70-200 f/4 IS... your two cents?

The 70-200 F4 L was easy, just point and shoot, no thinking involved. Every aperture and every focal length delivered.

The 55-300mm requires a bit of thought for optimum results. Mainly the center is the sharp zone unless your at F8, and the edges are not fantastic wide open. You have to keep that in mind, but other than that it's 100% professionally usable. (Not sure it's as durable under harsh use as the 70-200L but heck it's $250 as opposed to $1250.

)

I have never used the 60-250mm. heck I've never seen one in real life! I need to go to the LCS and check one out. I bet it would compare pretty favorable with the 70-200 L and I know I would really like the 250mm. Particularly if it wasn't too much bigger or heavier than the L.

I am paring the 55-300mm with the DA* 50-135mm 2.8 SDM and they make a great combo. 50-135 for weddings, portraits etc, 55-300 for hiking landscapes. Best of both worlds for less than the cost of a 70-200 L!

DanGleabols · 12-09-2015, 02:12 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Qwntm

I need to do a video on flash...

HSS is a tool used to achieve a certain look, mostly done these days by people who own Fuji X100's which have a leaf shutter and native HSS built in.

If your outside and have tons of light to the point where 1/180th is a problem, you don't need flash but a diffuser or a reflector. (And an assistant.

) Neewer makes a 43inch kit that includes a gold, silver black and translucent reflector/diffuser just for this kind of situation.

there is no wrong or right here, but I can tell you, I am going to be seriously limiting the amount of flash I use from now on at weddings. 3200 ISO and fast prime lenses are the trick for the darker situations and F2.8 and diffusion and reflection with adequate ambient light is the plan. Flash only when necessary.

---------- Post added 12-08-15 at 11:31 PM ----------

The 70-200 F4 L was easy, just point and shoot, no thinking involved. Every aperture and every focal length delivered.

The 55-300mm requires a bit of thought for optimum results. Mainly the center is the sharp zone unless your at F8, and the edges are not fantastic wide open. You have to keep that in mind, but other than that it's 100% professionally usable. (Not sure it's as durable under harsh use as the 70-200L but heck it's $250 as opposed to $1250.

)

I have never used the 60-250mm. heck I've never seen one in real life! I need to go to the LCS and check one out. I bet it would compare pretty favorable with the 70-200 L and I know I would really like the 250mm. Particularly if it wasn't too much bigger or heavier than the L.

I am paring the 55-300mm with the DA* 50-135mm 2.8 SDM and they make a great combo. 50-135 for weddings, portraits etc, 55-300 for hiking landscapes. Best of both worlds for less than the cost of a 70-200 L!

Sorry, you are a far better photographer than me; but there is a significant difference between leaf shutters (ala x100) and HSS. I agree that people often don't give reflectors enough credit, and this something I certainly need to learn.

**clackers** · 12-09-2015, 02:55 AM

Originally posted by DanGleabols

Sorry, you are a far better photographer than me; but there is a significant difference between leaf shutters (ala x100) and HSS.

But at f2 you're stuck at 1/1000s with a leaf shutter, flash or no flash, right?

Imp · 12-09-2015, 04:26 AM

Originally posted by Qwntm

Particularly if it wasn't too much bigger or heavier than the L.

DA* 60-250 2.29 lb (1.04 kg)

L 70-200 IS 1.67 lb (760 g)

36% heavier...

**TER-OR** · 12-09-2015, 06:25 AM

The 60-250 is a big lens. I rented one for an airshow when I owned my K10. Together they were nearly 5 lbs. On the plus side, it's weather-sealed and the day was crappy with drizzle all day. On the minus side, that 60-250 was never put through its paces since most of the airshow was at low altitude and low light overcast. It would be a heavy lens to hike with, that's for sure.

12-08-2015, 06:08 PM - 3 Likes	#1
Qwntm Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 856	The K-3 and K3II are just hard to beat! So since the fall bridal show we did in October, I have been getting serious regarding what cameras I'm going to shoot 25 weddings with in 2016. Add to that a need for 36MP or better resolution for 30x40 and 40x60 prints for art shows which I am also gearing up for and the list of system candidates grows thinner and thinner. As some of you know I actually tried the Canon 6D and 7DMII because of the lenses. (The lenses were great!) But it is not just internet chatter: the sensors are behind in tech. There was a significant reduction in my image quality from the 24mp (and 16mp K5IIs) to the Canon sensors. Shots that should have been easy, were not usable. So that left Nikon. D810, check. $2800, check. Could I buy a K3II AND 16-50 AND 50-135 for $2250? Yup. Wow. compared to Nikon those prices are almost use them and throw them away... Landscapes with Pixel Shift are a done deal. I see 90% of what I want to shoot being done with Pixel Shift. The other 10% I will "put up" with "only" 24mp's of non PS resolution and color. LOL. Weddings? No sweat. Vello even makes a $15 off camera cord for flash for Pentax now! So videos are coming of my new/old Pentax system and how I'm going to make it work for me going full time pro again in 2016. Heck if people can make the Fuji system work for this stuff, Pentax is a no brainer! Just thought I'd share. (P.S. all the work on the new wedding sight was from 10 years ago with Canon 20D's, can't wait to update that stuff!)

12-09-2015, 02:12 AM - 1 Like	#12
DanGleabols Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Halifax, UK Posts: 120	Originally posted by Qwntm I need to do a video on flash... HSS is a tool used to achieve a certain look, mostly done these days by people who own Fuji X100's which have a leaf shutter and native HSS built in. If your outside and have tons of light to the point where 1/180th is a problem, you don't need flash but a diffuser or a reflector. (And an assistant. ) Neewer makes a 43inch kit that includes a gold, silver black and translucent reflector/diffuser just for this kind of situation. there is no wrong or right here, but I can tell you, I am going to be seriously limiting the amount of flash I use from now on at weddings. 3200 ISO and fast prime lenses are the trick for the darker situations and F2.8 and diffusion and reflection with adequate ambient light is the plan. Flash only when necessary. ---------- Post added 12-08-15 at 11:31 PM ---------- The 70-200 F4 L was easy, just point and shoot, no thinking involved. Every aperture and every focal length delivered. The 55-300mm requires a bit of thought for optimum results. Mainly the center is the sharp zone unless your at F8, and the edges are not fantastic wide open. You have to keep that in mind, but other than that it's 100% professionally usable. (Not sure it's as durable under harsh use as the 70-200L but heck it's $250 as opposed to $1250. ) I have never used the 60-250mm. heck I've never seen one in real life! I need to go to the LCS and check one out. I bet it would compare pretty favorable with the 70-200 L and I know I would really like the 250mm. Particularly if it wasn't too much bigger or heavier than the L. I am paring the 55-300mm with the DA* 50-135mm 2.8 SDM and they make a great combo. 50-135 for weddings, portraits etc, 55-300 for hiking landscapes. Best of both worlds for less than the cost of a 70-200 L! Sorry, you are a far better photographer than me; but there is a significant difference between leaf shutters (ala x100) and HSS. I agree that people often don't give reflectors enough credit, and this something I certainly need to learn. Last edited by DanGleabols; 12-09-2015 at 02:41 AM. Reason: Post could be interpreted as being aggressive when not meant to be.

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12-08-2015, 06:13 PM	#2
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,172	One of the reasons I have Pentax is the cheap price!

12-08-2015, 06:29 PM - 3 Likes	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by bertwert One of the reasons I have Pentax is the cheap price! Shhhhhush! We don't use the "C" word around here. "High value" is the preferred term. Steve

12-08-2015, 06:40 PM	#4
Qwntm Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 856 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Shhhhhush! We don't use the "C" word around here. "High value" is the preferred term. Steve So Black Friday pricing is always a treat and this year has been really good, but even before Black Friday, the MAP went away and Pentax was a player again. The HD 15mm LTD at $399.95, DA* 16-50 SDM at $699.95 and DA* 50-135 SDM at $795.96 are particularly tasty! $742.12 from Amazon for a K3II is ridiculous considering it's best in class overall and what they want for anything else. All that's not just high value, THAT'S CHEAP!! Bwahahahaahahaa...

12-08-2015, 07:54 PM	#5
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Glad to hear new videos are coming out! I'm excited to hear what you've found in trading the 70-200 f/4 L for the HD DA 55-300. That's the video i've most anticipated since your last one! I'm also curious, as a side note, what you'd think of the DA* 60-250 f/4 vs. the Canon 70-200 f/4 IS... your two cents?

12-08-2015, 09:02 PM	#6
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519	I used my K3 second shooting a handful of weddings last year. It was pretty good. My only concern was off camera flash outside trying to get over 1/180" flash sync... but usually not a problem at weddings!

12-08-2015, 09:13 PM	#7
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717	Originally posted by Wired My only concern was off camera flash outside trying to get over 1/180" flash sync... but usually not a problem at weddings! A bit confused, since it's not like anyone else offers a much higher sync. I think Nikon is 1/250 on their good models. Canon is 1/200.

12-08-2015, 10:11 PM	#8
howieb101 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 594	Originally posted by Wired I used my K3 second shooting a handful of weddings last year. It was pretty good. My only concern was off camera flash outside trying to get over 1/180" flash sync... but usually not a problem at weddings! HSS not an option?

12-08-2015, 10:16 PM	#9
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by MadMathMind A bit confused, since it's not like anyone else offers a much higher sync. I think Nikon is 1/250 on their good models. Canon is 1/200. I agree that it would be nice if Pentax has a higher flash sync speed... however, I have yet to find that a limitation and I use flash a lot since I shoot weddings, birthday and events. And for outdoor fill flash, I use HSS as an option if I need but I find that I rarely need it.

12-08-2015, 11:22 PM	#10
Davidparis Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 290	Originally posted by stevebrot Shhhhhush! We don't use the "C" word around here. "High value" is the preferred term. Steve Yep, I don't do cheap either, I do high-value.

12-08-2015, 11:25 PM	#11
Qwntm Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 856 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wired I used my K3 second shooting a handful of weddings last year. It was pretty good. My only concern was off camera flash outside trying to get over 1/180" flash sync... but usually not a problem at weddings! I need to do a video on flash... HSS is a tool used to achieve a certain look, mostly done these days by people who own Fuji X100's which have a leaf shutter and native HSS built in. If your outside and have tons of light to the point where 1/180th is a problem, you don't need flash but a diffuser or a reflector. (And an assistant. ) Neewer makes a 43inch kit that includes a gold, silver black and translucent reflector/diffuser just for this kind of situation. there is no wrong or right here, but I can tell you, I am going to be seriously limiting the amount of flash I use from now on at weddings. 3200 ISO and fast prime lenses are the trick for the darker situations and F2.8 and diffusion and reflection with adequate ambient light is the plan. Flash only when necessary. ---------- Post added 12-08-15 at 11:31 PM ---------- Originally posted by Imp Glad to hear new videos are coming out! I'm excited to hear what you've found in trading the 70-200 f/4 L for the HD DA 55-300. That's the video i've most anticipated since your last one! I'm also curious, as a side note, what you'd think of the DA* 60-250 f/4 vs. the Canon 70-200 f/4 IS... your two cents? The 70-200 F4 L was easy, just point and shoot, no thinking involved. Every aperture and every focal length delivered. The 55-300mm requires a bit of thought for optimum results. Mainly the center is the sharp zone unless your at F8, and the edges are not fantastic wide open. You have to keep that in mind, but other than that it's 100% professionally usable. (Not sure it's as durable under harsh use as the 70-200L but heck it's $250 as opposed to $1250. ) I have never used the 60-250mm. heck I've never seen one in real life! I need to go to the LCS and check one out. I bet it would compare pretty favorable with the 70-200 L and I know I would really like the 250mm. Particularly if it wasn't too much bigger or heavier than the L. I am paring the 55-300mm with the DA* 50-135mm 2.8 SDM and they make a great combo. 50-135 for weddings, portraits etc, 55-300 for hiking landscapes. Best of both worlds for less than the cost of a 70-200 L!

12-09-2015, 02:55 AM	#13
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by DanGleabols Sorry, you are a far better photographer than me; but there is a significant difference between leaf shutters (ala x100) and HSS. But at f2 you're stuck at 1/1000s with a leaf shutter, flash or no flash, right?

12-09-2015, 04:26 AM	#14
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by Qwntm Particularly if it wasn't too much bigger or heavier than the L. DA* 60-250 2.29 lb (1.04 kg) L 70-200 IS 1.67 lb (760 g) 36% heavier...

12-09-2015, 06:25 AM	#15
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	The 60-250 is a big lens. I rented one for an airshow when I owned my K10. Together they were nearly 5 lbs. On the plus side, it's weather-sealed and the day was crappy with drizzle all day. On the minus side, that 60-250 was never put through its paces since most of the airshow was at low altitude and low light overcast. It would be a heavy lens to hike with, that's for sure.