Hello from western NC

Titus2:13 · 08-22-2016, 03:58 PM

Hello. I am semi-retired, an amateur (shooting is fun) photographer. Not new to Pentax but new to the forum. Bought a K1000 as first Pentax with 50mm. Gave that up to go digitial with cheap point and shoot. Wanted better so bought K50 and 18-135 kit. Been loving it since and just last week upgraded to the K3. Wow! The K3 makes the 18-135 come alive! Not even close to learning what it can do but loving it already.
I am interested in trying to better my shots of wildlife and BIF and wondering what exposure mode might best serve. I shoot mainly in AV but am not afraid of using M and manually forcusing. Also what should I set AF at? Have been using 'spot' mostly but when trying to follow movement maybe not the best. I have been shooting-when lighting allows- at f11-f14.
In regards to connecting to AC for bulb exposures and sensor cleaning, I have been told that the AC adapter kit D-AC50 from the K5 using the same battery is ok to use with the K3. I see a different kit listing for the K3 but the D-AC50 seems to be eaxctly the same voltage/connection type. Is there a difference and is it safe to use the AC50 for the K3? Having just saved to get the K3 the last thing I want to do is be stupid and ruin the camera beyond repair and/or void the warranty. Thank You in advance for your helpful replies. Titus 2:13(Virgil)

C_Jones · 08-22-2016, 04:56 PM

I use TAV mode, "Spot" AF point, AF.C autofocus method, F8 aperture, 1000-1250 shutter speed (usually 1250), and SR on (shake reduction). Also in the C3 menu of the camera (rear LCD) set "1st Frame Action in AF.C" to "Release Priority" and "Hold AF Status" to "Off". I also set my EV to +.3 to help lighten the underwing or bottom of birds when flying by. ISO is set automatically when using TAV mode.

Those are basically the settings I use with my K-3II/Sigma 150-500 DG OS.

Unregistered User 8 · 08-22-2016, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by Titus2:13

Wow! The K3 makes the 18-135 come alive!

Hi Virgil. Welcome to the Pentax forums. You are right about the K-3 ( I have 1 also ), it brings out the best in most lenses. I cannot answer your AC adapter question, but one of the boffins here will surely chime in with the right answer for you.

Good to have you here.

**Kerrowdown** · 08-23-2016, 12:17 AM

Welcome to the forum, enjoy that new K3, it's a great piece of kit by all accounts.

Titus2:13 · 08-23-2016, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by C_Jones

I use TAV mode, "Spot" AF point, AF.C autofocus method, F8 aperture, 1000-1250 shutter speed (usually 1250), and SR on (shake reduction). Also in the C3 menu of the camera (rear LCD) set "1st Frame Action in AF.C" to "Release Priority" and "Hold AF Status" to "Off". I also set my EV to +.3 to help lighten the underwing or bottom of birds when flying by. ISO is set automatically when using TAV mode.

Those are basically the settings I use with my K-3II/Sigma 150-500 DG OS.

Thanks for the help. Sounds like what I need to know. Will certainly try it when I next get out.

Titus2:13 · 08-23-2016, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by pjv

Hi Virgil. Welcome to the Pentax forums. You are right about the K-3 ( I have 1 also ), it brings out the best in most lenses. I cannot answer your AC adapter question, but one of the boffins here will surely chime in with the right answer for you.

Good to have you here.

Thanks for the welcome. I am finding a lot of good help and ideas on the forum.

Titus2:13 · 08-23-2016, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

Welcome to the forum, enjoy that new K3, it's a great piece of kit by all accounts.

Thank You. It's great having a forum to go to for Information and help.

C_Jones · 08-23-2016, 08:00 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Titus2:13

Thanks for the help. Sounds like what I need to know. Will certainly try it when I next get out.

You're welcome.

**BigMackCam** · 08-23-2016, 12:59 PM

Hi Virgil, and a belated welcome to the forums - glad you could join us

Thanks for your interesting introduction - it's great to learn a little about new members!

Congratulations on your upgrade to the K-3. It's a lovely camera, and a perfect pairing with the 18-135 (I've never owned that particular lens, but it has many fans here). I'm a beginner when it comes to wildlife and BIF photography, so I won't offer any advice there, but there are plenty of members with lots of experience in these areas.

Regarding the D-AC50, you should be fine using that with the K-3. Many listings for third party equivalent products advertise them as compatible with the K-7, K-5, K-5II / s, K-3, K-3II etc.

Titus2:13 · 08-23-2016, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by BigMackCam

Hi Virgil, and a belated welcome to the forums - glad you could join us

Thanks for your interesting introduction - it's great to learn a little about new members!

Regarding the D-AC50, you should be fine using that with the K-3. Many listings for third party equivalent products advertise them as compatible with the K-7, K-5, K-5II / s, K-3, K-3II etc.

Thanks for the reassurance. Definitely don't want to ruin a great camera because of someone suggesting to use a non-compatible adapter. Love the insightful imput in all responses and the various topics covered overall. Titus2:13.

E-man · 08-27-2016, 10:18 AM - **1 Like**

Greetings and welcome from a fellow North Carolinian. There certainly are some great opportunities for nature photography up in your neck of the woods. You should be able to give that K3 a great workout.

lukulele · 08-27-2016, 01:05 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome Virgil,
You are going to find great folks and immense talent and knowledge on PF. Take advantage of that wonderful area around Lenoir. We're just up the Parkway from you.

**gaweidert** · 08-28-2016, 10:10 AM - **1 Like**

Welcome aboard. Semi retired? You're not that guy with the big house in Asheville are you?

08-22-2016, 03:58 PM	#1
Titus2:13 New Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lenoir NC Posts: 7	Hello from western NC Hello. I am semi-retired, an amateur (shooting is fun) photographer. Not new to Pentax but new to the forum. Bought a K1000 as first Pentax with 50mm. Gave that up to go digitial with cheap point and shoot. Wanted better so bought K50 and 18-135 kit. Been loving it since and just last week upgraded to the K3. Wow! The K3 makes the 18-135 come alive! Not even close to learning what it can do but loving it already. I am interested in trying to better my shots of wildlife and BIF and wondering what exposure mode might best serve. I shoot mainly in AV but am not afraid of using M and manually forcusing. Also what should I set AF at? Have been using 'spot' mostly but when trying to follow movement maybe not the best. I have been shooting-when lighting allows- at f11-f14. In regards to connecting to AC for bulb exposures and sensor cleaning, I have been told that the AC adapter kit D-AC50 from the K5 using the same battery is ok to use with the K3. I see a different kit listing for the K3 but the D-AC50 seems to be eaxctly the same voltage/connection type. Is there a difference and is it safe to use the AC50 for the K3? Having just saved to get the K3 the last thing I want to do is be stupid and ruin the camera beyond repair and/or void the warranty. Thank You in advance for your helpful replies. Titus 2:13(Virgil)

08-22-2016, 04:56 PM	#2
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,084	I use TAV mode, "Spot" AF point, AF.C autofocus method, F8 aperture, 1000-1250 shutter speed (usually 1250), and SR on (shake reduction). Also in the C3 menu of the camera (rear LCD) set "1st Frame Action in AF.C" to "Release Priority" and "Hold AF Status" to "Off". I also set my EV to +.3 to help lighten the underwing or bottom of birds when flying by. ISO is set automatically when using TAV mode. Those are basically the settings I use with my K-3II/Sigma 150-500 DG OS. Last edited by C_Jones; 08-22-2016 at 05:40 PM.

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08-22-2016, 10:11 PM	#3
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Originally posted by Titus2:13 Wow! The K3 makes the 18-135 come alive! Hi Virgil. Welcome to the Pentax forums. You are right about the K-3 ( I have 1 also ), it brings out the best in most lenses. I cannot answer your AC adapter question, but one of the boffins here will surely chime in with the right answer for you. Good to have you here.

08-23-2016, 12:17 AM	#4
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Welcome to the forum, enjoy that new K3, it's a great piece of kit by all accounts.

08-23-2016, 06:42 AM	#5
Titus2:13 New Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lenoir NC Posts: 7 Original Poster	Originally posted by C_Jones I use TAV mode, "Spot" AF point, AF.C autofocus method, F8 aperture, 1000-1250 shutter speed (usually 1250), and SR on (shake reduction). Also in the C3 menu of the camera (rear LCD) set "1st Frame Action in AF.C" to "Release Priority" and "Hold AF Status" to "Off". I also set my EV to +.3 to help lighten the underwing or bottom of birds when flying by. ISO is set automatically when using TAV mode. Those are basically the settings I use with my K-3II/Sigma 150-500 DG OS. Thanks for the help. Sounds like what I need to know. Will certainly try it when I next get out.

08-23-2016, 06:44 AM	#6
Titus2:13 New Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lenoir NC Posts: 7 Original Poster	Originally posted by pjv Hi Virgil. Welcome to the Pentax forums. You are right about the K-3 ( I have 1 also ), it brings out the best in most lenses. I cannot answer your AC adapter question, but one of the boffins here will surely chime in with the right answer for you. Good to have you here. Thanks for the welcome. I am finding a lot of good help and ideas on the forum.

08-23-2016, 06:46 AM	#7
Titus2:13 New Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lenoir NC Posts: 7 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kerrowdown Welcome to the forum, enjoy that new K3, it's a great piece of kit by all accounts. Thank You. It's great having a forum to go to for Information and help.

08-23-2016, 08:00 AM - 1 Like	#8
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,084	Originally posted by Titus2:13 Thanks for the help. Sounds like what I need to know. Will certainly try it when I next get out. You're welcome.

08-23-2016, 12:59 PM	#9
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,669	Hi Virgil, and a belated welcome to the forums - glad you could join us Thanks for your interesting introduction - it's great to learn a little about new members! Congratulations on your upgrade to the K-3. It's a lovely camera, and a perfect pairing with the 18-135 (I've never owned that particular lens, but it has many fans here). I'm a beginner when it comes to wildlife and BIF photography, so I won't offer any advice there, but there are plenty of members with lots of experience in these areas. Regarding the D-AC50, you should be fine using that with the K-3. Many listings for third party equivalent products advertise them as compatible with the K-7, K-5, K-5II / s, K-3, K-3II etc.

08-23-2016, 03:34 PM	#10
Titus2:13 New Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lenoir NC Posts: 7 Original Poster	Originally posted by BigMackCam Hi Virgil, and a belated welcome to the forums - glad you could join us Thanks for your interesting introduction - it's great to learn a little about new members! Regarding the D-AC50, you should be fine using that with the K-3. Many listings for third party equivalent products advertise them as compatible with the K-7, K-5, K-5II / s, K-3, K-3II etc. Thanks for the reassurance. Definitely don't want to ruin a great camera because of someone suggesting to use a non-compatible adapter. Love the insightful imput in all responses and the various topics covered overall. Titus2:13.

08-27-2016, 10:18 AM - 1 Like	#11
E-man Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 678	Greetings and welcome from a fellow North Carolinian. There certainly are some great opportunities for nature photography up in your neck of the woods. You should be able to give that K3 a great workout.

08-27-2016, 01:05 PM - 1 Like	#12
lukulele Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Blue Ridge Escarpment, North Carolina, US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,850	Welcome Virgil, You are going to find great folks and immense talent and knowledge on PF. Take advantage of that wonderful area around Lenoir. We're just up the Parkway from you.

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08-28-2016, 10:10 AM - 1 Like	#13
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,325	Welcome aboard. Semi retired? You're not that guy with the big house in Asheville are you?