Freestyle motocross. My first action shots wtih Pentax KP

apete · 03-26-2017, 09:37 AM - **9 Likes**

On Thursday I finally got my long awaited Pentax KP. Yesterday evening I paired it with Pentax DA* 60-250. Here some of my shots come.

Event: Diverse Night of the Jumps, Krakow Tauron Arena

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**BigMackCam** · 03-26-2017, 09:45 AM

Really excellent series of shots! Nice and clean, too...

Looks like it was a fun and impressive event!

rawr · 03-26-2017, 11:19 AM - **1 Like**

Impressive action shots. Well done.

Looks like you were able to get quite close to the action. Some of those riders, esp quadbike guy, look as if they could easily have landed right on top of you.

C_Jones · 03-26-2017, 12:41 PM

Nice shots.

stevebrot · 03-26-2017, 01:36 PM

I agree! Impressive shooting. I have to ask, did you pre-focus or are those AF shots? If AF, what settings?

Steve

apete · 03-26-2017, 03:12 PM - **1 Like**

All, thanks for your positive feedback!

Regarding the AF: all the photos are taken using AF.C and optical view finder. To be frank AF.C was one of the reasons I was so excited about that event as I wanted to verify how much KP AF it is better over K-5ii AF. Unfortunately I have never been shooting exactly this kind of event before with K-5ii BUT I feel like KP AF is vastly improved over the older SAFOX generation. Do not get me wrong - it is not perfect. But what I am saying is that KP really does some tracking especially in contrast with K-5ii for which it was hunting here and there to get some shot "accidentaly". Unfortunately I have never been shooting with K-3 generation so I cannot comment on differences with that one.

More details on AF settings: AF.C, AUTO 27, focus priority for both first and each next one, hold AF status - max (not sure if any other setting would change anything here); burst mode: continuous mode high. One note for continuous shooting with focus priority: definitely not 7 FPS, it was more like 3 to 5 FPS. SR was off.

And to describe better what I was shooting and how AF was working: I was shooting more or less perpendicularly to the line those guys were flying, say from 45 degree to the left to 45 degree to the right. So the distance was like ... hmmm .... 10 to 50 meters from me. More or less... I think

I was pretty lucky to get a seat in 4th row.

Some other settings: ISO 1600, time priority and 1/500 sec. The pictures were a bit undersexposed with F4 but that is not an issue for DNG format and good software nowadays.
Now I feel like I should have been trying even faster shutter speed but I did not want to boost ISO even more. The problem with me is that I have rather shaky hands and with my K-5ii I used to wonder if SR in my cam is broken... this does not help when shooting action and panning

wed7 · 03-26-2017, 11:13 PM

Amazing shots my friend! Even makes me want to reconsider the KP. I wish I could see more of these.

Thank you for the details too.

**WillWeaverRVA** · 03-27-2017, 08:49 AM

IMPRESSIVE shots!

chezpentax · 03-27-2017, 11:43 AM

Those pics tell a good story and suggest that the auto focus is pretty effective. I've yet to find a camera that has perfect or even near perfect auto focus. I tried the Canon 7DMII in December 2016 and the hit rate was pretty poor - 4 out of 5 had soft focus using a tele zoom lens. I have the brilliant Sony a6000 that is renown for sharp focus and I've no problem with it per se but nothing can be always guaranteed. IQ here strikes me as well above the competition but I sense that this was assisted by the use of the appropriate sharp lens. I'm interested in trying the KP out - when it becomes available!

**mikesbike** · 03-27-2017, 01:18 PM

Maybe still not as good at AF tracking as Nikon's upper tier, but in the right hands, apparently the KP is very competent! A meaningful step forward. We should also not ignore the capability of the SDM AF of the DA* 60-250mm. It looks like there are differences between SDM lenses regarding AF speed also, and the new KP allowed this lens to function up to its potential.

One question: from what I have read, JPEGs are usually faster than RAW when shooting fast moving subjects in burst mode, etc. so I am wondering if your shots were done as JPEGs.

wed7 · 03-27-2017, 06:07 PM

Originally posted by mikesbike

Maybe still not as good at AF tracking as Nikon's upper tier, but in the right hands, apparently the KP is very competent! A meaningful step forward. We should also not ignore the capability of the SDM AF of the DA* 60-250mm. It looks like there are differences between SDM lenses regarding AF speed also, and the new KP allowed this lens to function up to its potential.

One question: from what I have read, JPEGs are usually faster than RAW when shooting fast moving subjects in burst mode, etc. so I am wondering if your shots were done as JPEGs.

"Some other settings: ISO 1600, time priority and 1/500 sec. The pictures were a bit undersexposed with F4 but that is not an issue for DNG format and good software nowadays."

So my best guess is that those were done with RAW.

**TimR** · 03-28-2017, 02:14 AM

Really great shots. Thank You for sharing!
Enjoyed seeing them.

apete · 03-28-2017, 09:55 AM

Gee! I did not expect that, thanks a milion for your kind words! Attaching more photos, enjoy

BTW, yes, I did shoot in DNG as I feel like it gives more control over dark/white areas.

bobell69 · 03-30-2017, 05:17 PM

I'm most impressed with these images. What would you say was the percentage of keepers in terms of sharp focus?

hooverfocus · 03-30-2017, 05:41 PM - **1 Like**

There's clearly a problem with the camera. Most of the pictures seem to have come out upside down.

Ok, nobody laughed

Those are really impressive shots indeed!

03-26-2017, 03:12 PM - 1 Like	#6
apete Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 249 Original Poster	All, thanks for your positive feedback! Regarding the AF: all the photos are taken using AF.C and optical view finder. To be frank AF.C was one of the reasons I was so excited about that event as I wanted to verify how much KP AF it is better over K-5ii AF. Unfortunately I have never been shooting exactly this kind of event before with K-5ii BUT I feel like KP AF is vastly improved over the older SAFOX generation. Do not get me wrong - it is not perfect. But what I am saying is that KP really does some tracking especially in contrast with K-5ii for which it was hunting here and there to get some shot "accidentaly". Unfortunately I have never been shooting with K-3 generation so I cannot comment on differences with that one. More details on AF settings: AF.C, AUTO 27, focus priority for both first and each next one, hold AF status - max (not sure if any other setting would change anything here); burst mode: continuous mode high. One note for continuous shooting with focus priority: definitely not 7 FPS, it was more like 3 to 5 FPS. SR was off. And to describe better what I was shooting and how AF was working: I was shooting more or less perpendicularly to the line those guys were flying, say from 45 degree to the left to 45 degree to the right. So the distance was like ... hmmm .... 10 to 50 meters from me. More or less... I think I was pretty lucky to get a seat in 4th row. Some other settings: ISO 1600, time priority and 1/500 sec. The pictures were a bit undersexposed with F4 but that is not an issue for DNG format and good software nowadays. Now I feel like I should have been trying even faster shutter speed but I did not want to boost ISO even more. The problem with me is that I have rather shaky hands and with my K-5ii I used to wonder if SR in my cam is broken... this does not help when shooting action and panning Last edited by apete; 03-26-2017 at 03:18 PM.

03-27-2017, 11:43 AM	#9
chezpentax New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: UK Posts: 11	Great IQ, Great Capture Those pics tell a good story and suggest that the auto focus is pretty effective. I've yet to find a camera that has perfect or even near perfect auto focus. I tried the Canon 7DMII in December 2016 and the hit rate was pretty poor - 4 out of 5 had soft focus using a tele zoom lens. I have the brilliant Sony a6000 that is renown for sharp focus and I've no problem with it per se but nothing can be always guaranteed. IQ here strikes me as well above the competition but I sense that this was assisted by the use of the appropriate sharp lens. I'm interested in trying the KP out - when it becomes available!

03-27-2017, 01:18 PM	#10
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,558	Maybe still not as good at AF tracking as Nikon's upper tier, but in the right hands, apparently the KP is very competent! A meaningful step forward. We should also not ignore the capability of the SDM AF of the DA* 60-250mm. It looks like there are differences between SDM lenses regarding AF speed also, and the new KP allowed this lens to function up to its potential. One question: from what I have read, JPEGs are usually faster than RAW when shooting fast moving subjects in burst mode, etc. so I am wondering if your shots were done as JPEGs. Last edited by mikesbike; 03-27-2017 at 01:47 PM.

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03-26-2017, 09:45 AM	#2
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,687	Really excellent series of shots! Nice and clean, too... Looks like it was a fun and impressive event!

03-26-2017, 11:19 AM - 1 Like	#3
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Impressive action shots. Well done. Looks like you were able to get quite close to the action. Some of those riders, esp quadbike guy, look as if they could easily have landed right on top of you.

03-26-2017, 12:41 PM	#4
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,077	Nice shots.

03-26-2017, 01:36 PM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I agree! Impressive shooting. I have to ask, did you pre-focus or are those AF shots? If AF, what settings? Steve

03-26-2017, 11:13 PM	#7
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	Amazing shots my friend! Even makes me want to reconsider the KP. I wish I could see more of these. Thank you for the details too.

03-27-2017, 08:49 AM	#8
WillWeaverRVA Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Richmond, VA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	IMPRESSIVE shots!

03-27-2017, 06:07 PM	#11
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	Originally posted by mikesbike Maybe still not as good at AF tracking as Nikon's upper tier, but in the right hands, apparently the KP is very competent! A meaningful step forward. We should also not ignore the capability of the SDM AF of the DA* 60-250mm. It looks like there are differences between SDM lenses regarding AF speed also, and the new KP allowed this lens to function up to its potential. One question: from what I have read, JPEGs are usually faster than RAW when shooting fast moving subjects in burst mode, etc. so I am wondering if your shots were done as JPEGs. "Some other settings: ISO 1600, time priority and 1/500 sec. The pictures were a bit undersexposed with F4 but that is not an issue for DNG format and good software nowadays." So my best guess is that those were done with RAW.

03-28-2017, 02:14 AM	#12
TimR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 344	Really great shots. Thank You for sharing! Enjoyed seeing them.

03-30-2017, 05:17 PM	#14
bobell69 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Courtenay BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 498	I'm most impressed with these images. What would you say was the percentage of keepers in terms of sharp focus?

03-30-2017, 05:41 PM - 1 Like	#15
hooverfocus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 210	There's clearly a problem with the camera. Most of the pictures seem to have come out upside down. Ok, nobody laughed Those are really impressive shots indeed!