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06-03-2020, 06:31 PM   #16
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I still have a K50 and I use it. However, 95% of my photography is bird photography, and for that I use a Nikon D500. There are two main aspects to AF. One is initial AF acquisition. A lot of that is due to the lens. Another is AF tracking, and a lot of that is due to the camera and the lens. If I were you, I'd get a Nikon, either a D500 or a D7200 if the D500 is too expensive. As for the lens, something like a Nikon Af-P 70-300 FX would be a great start. If you want a larger lens, there are plenty of options like the Nikon 200-500 or Sigma/Tamron 150-600 lenses that used are really cheap.

Now Pentax does have a 150-450 lens, which probably would be pretty good with the latest flagship that is supposed to be released, or maybe the K-70, but it will not be as good as a D7200.

06-03-2020, 06:52 PM   #17
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For what it's worth, I do all my bird photography with a K-50... manual focus however (sometimes with catch-in-focus)...






As to the original question, the best Pentax AF seems to lie with the KP, especially when used with the 55-300 PLM. Technique also helps... personally I can't stand anything other than back-button-focus (completely unconnected from shutter), but then I also use just the centre AF point and AF-S...
06-03-2020, 08:37 PM - 1 Like   #18
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You probably have to learn photography, Jersey!

AF-C, back button focus and panning are your friends for action pictures.
06-03-2020, 11:02 PM   #19
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I've heard it, and then repeated it to myself for last 30 years since my first time with Zenit 3M But thank you for tip It seems I will need to learn from scratch with digital camera. Makes me feel like grandpa trying to start TV


I'll try back button focus, panning is OK for birds, but with train moving directly towards you kinda hard

06-04-2020, 04:01 AM   #20
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Jersey, have a look at this thread. I didn't bother to read all the comments but there are a couple of images you ought to see before you write off Pentax as a bad action focusing camera;
eg long jumper on page 3 and speed boat and rally cars on page 5

How good is Pentax AF tracking? - Page 6 - PentaxForums.com
06-04-2020, 04:24 AM - 1 Like   #21
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I'm no expert, (and I have had quite a few failures of birds in flight (and a couple of successes)) but trains coming towards me I have managed OK (K5, DA18-135)





I took 12 images in the series and everyone was in focus.
06-04-2020, 05:17 AM   #22
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Perhaps its just my own fault with D in DSLR. It's my first one and as I said - with analog cam and manual focusing I have no issues with taking a photo I want to keep. K-50 AF paired with Tamron gives me headaches. I'm an IT guy, a tech one and I like to use tech I have so it ticks me off when it's not working as advertised.

I'll check the PLM lens, and dive into camera manual once again? And shooting then, thanks for tips.@rod_grant - thanks for thread, interesting one. Made me fill at guilty

06-04-2020, 06:02 AM   #23
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You’re welcome, jersey.
I now have KP and the PLM, and couldn’t be happier.
I haven’t tried it much on moving stuff but I have no doubt it will outperform my K5 and 18-135.
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