[bobbotron]

This new DA*16-50 as well as older 55-300PLM(I don't own either -yet- ) should give even better performance. I have had shots in focus which I would have never even dreamed to get with any other Pentax camera AND I'm using my excisting lenses. Best AF happens with lenses with DC and DFA*70-200 with it's SDM is also quite fast. Even DA*16-50SDM is precise even if it is not much faster due that weak SDM, it is still much better.

I'm saving up my pennies for 16-50 PLM and will propably get that 55-300 PLM too, just because I think that his will lift K-3III on that level that it can be. Shooting fast moving doggies or kids in my case(my daughter is fast now adays) is no sweat anymore good times

Yeah, I'll have to try it with my 18-135mm, it's pretty fast to focus.


I think while the screw drive could be part of my hit/miss ratio, biggest part is operator training. I have to go and watch some AF videos, and maybe calibrate my lenses. Haha, part of my misses are me shifting my body quickly, anticipating getting slammed into by a puppy.

I really am impressed, huge improvement from the K3.

[Lloyd_Christmas]

The auto-focus IS impressive!
This shot is an example of how well it does.
I used the maximum number of AF points and let the camera do its work.
Note how it could easily ignore the fur and get the eye. I shot many that day and it got it right every time!
This is with the 55-300 PLM at 300mm.
Bravo, Pentax!

[Grokh]

The auto-focus IS impressive!
This shot is an example of how well it does.
I used the maximum number of AF points and let the camera do its work.

Great example!
"But if I were you, I would not risk it ..." (с)

[vector]

First attempts at a bird in flight. Unfortunately it is just a crow, but that's what I got. Including all frames here including the missed one. I think I could have used a faster shutter speed but it worked well and even held through some tree branches.

Pentax K-3 Mark III with DA*300mm F4+TC using AFC SEL2 Drive Mode Continuous Medium (7 FPS) Firmware 1.31

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Last edited by vector; 12-12-2021 at 10:24 PM.

[Serkevan]

Well that's fantastic performance in my book. The two shots beyond the branches would almost 100% fool the K-1.

[Larrymc]

I was out a few days ago to our local reservoir to get some shots of the Gulls that arrive here every winter. They were not getting very close to my shooting position so I grabbed as many long distance shots as I could. Here are a couple of shots of a Ring Billed Gull at over 350ft. The A/F was set to continuous zone select and the camera tracked the gull despite many opportunities to lock on to other objects in the vicinity of the Gull. My old K-3 Mk I could have never done this it would have either locked on to a passing car or part of the concrete structure directly behind the gull.



The second post is a 60% crop of the Gull.



I shot over 250 images and almost all of them were well focused.

[Grokh]

Looks like the 55-300 PLM works very well.

[Larrymc]

Looks like the 55-300 PLM works very well.

It certainly does especially when mounted on the Mk III. I've had the 55-300 PLM for several years but the Mk III really lets it shine.

[vector]

Well that's fantastic performance in my book. The two shots beyond the branches would almost 100% fool the K-1.

At the time I took them I figured none of them turned out, I don't have good technique and have had no practice panning to track birds in flight. I think the one missed shot is my fault since AFC SEL2 uses the 21 centre points and I think I let the bird out of that middle area for a split second - the images are cropped in post to centre the bird. I will get better, but if I can make this work I would agree it is fantastic performance.

[repaap]

It is these new lenses which does make AF of K-3III really sing. I'm still very happy with improvement even with old (AF) lenses they have managed to do

[biz-engineer]

Well that's fantastic performance in my book. The two shots beyond the branches would almost 100% fool the K-1.

A few years back , I posted a similar series of all in focus BiF behind tree branches, shot with the K1. But the example was dismissed because the birds wasn't coming straight at me, ahhh ohhh and also yeah it wasn't a bicycle test.

[Mikesul]

i agree that it is a combination of improved lenses as well as the cameras. The k-3iii is best but I have had good luck with both the K-1ii and the KP especially with the PLM.

[repaap]

i agree that it is a combination of improved lenses as well as the cameras. The k-3iii is best but I have had good luck with both the K-1ii and the KP especially with the PLM.

They do improve AF also with older cameras. I did just say this because many seems to still think that K-3III is not actually that much better with AF. But have they really tried K-3III with new lenses like PLM. I’v had many great shots with all of my Pentax cameras. Now with K-3 III, I do get shots Not being possible before, and it is consistent.

[redpit]

They do improve AF also with older cameras. I did just say this because many seems to still think that K-3III is not actually that much better with AF. But have they really tried K-3III with new lenses like PLM. I’v had many great shots with all of my Pentax cameras. Now with K-3 III, I do get shots Not being possible before, and it is consistent.

^^ Exactly my findings too with the K-3iii

[wkraus]

At the time I took them I figured none of them turned out, I don't have good technique and have had no practice panning to track birds in flight. I think the one missed shot is my fault since AFC SEL2 uses the 21 centre points and I think I let the bird out of that middle area for a split second - the images are cropped in post to centre the bird. I will get better, but if I can make this work I would agree it is fantastic performance.

Great results, very impressive! As for the missed shot, I think that is mostly due to motion blur.