Lens suggestion...

marubex · 11-17-2010, 11:47 AM

Hi I am about to purchase a k-r, what lens do you suggest for indoor sports? And do you think the kit 55-300 would do some otudoor?

Thanks

psychdoc · 11-17-2010, 12:00 PM

Indoor sports = usually bad lighting = need for fast lens.

What sports? If it is something like basketball, volleyball etc where you are usually able to sit fairly close you will be happy with the pentax da 50-135 f2.8 lens. I use it and its nice but depending on your needs it maybe either too expensive or not long enough. If not long enough look for a 70-200mm f2.8 lens. Dont have the 55-300 so can't comment on it.

**boriscleto** · 11-17-2010, 12:06 PM

I'm not a sports shooter, but I think the 55-300 does well enough in the right lighting conditions. Use TV mode, AF-C, and Auto ISO.

Oct 08, 2010 - a set on Flickr

As for indoor sports, look at something like the DA* 50-135.

marubex · 11-17-2010, 12:11 PM

thank you,
indoor will be ballet, dance and tae kwon do..ç
So i think i can get pretty close. Is 2.8 enough? I´ve heard people saying a minimun of 1.8?
Thanks, I am really starting out

psychdoc · 11-17-2010, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by marubex

thank you,
Is 2.8 enough? I´ve heard people saying a minimun of 1.8?

There are trade-offs to going for faster and faster glass. If you shoot at 1.8, you will wind up with only part of what you are shooting in focus. Sometimes that is what you want. But not always. 2.8 is usually pretty good for most situations.

You are getting a k-r, it should perform well in the less than ideal lighting conditions. Use shutter priority and play with the iso setting prior to the performance to see what you can get away with. I used to shoot indoor with at least 800 iso and often higher. My camera was the k2000 which led to images with noise and had to be cleaned up using software in the computer. With the k-r you should be able to get better images even with higher iso. I have shot dance recitals for my daughter. What I used to do was shoot pictures of the performers that went before her to find out what settings worked best so that by the time she came on I did not need to fiddle with the settings so much.

If you are 'starting out' in the full sense of the word, take some tutorials at your local community college or from a photographer and learn the basics of manual settings and then take pictures as often as you can and you will be all set. Go to the library and simply browse through photo books and you will get plenty of ideas about composition. These things are more important. The camera and the lens are only tools, its more important to learn how to use them effectively.

**jpzk** · 11-17-2010, 01:03 PM

This thread comes in handy as I just posted a similar one in the K-r Forum, and it is here:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-r-forum/122979-what-better-zoom-lens-k-r.html

Any suggestion(s) would be welcome!

JP

marubex · 11-17-2010, 02:21 PM

jpzk, i can't open the tread.. could you repost it?

DonP · 11-17-2010, 06:21 PM

With the range of useable ISO your get with the k-x/k-r, the 55-300 would work fine. It works as an f/4 lens almost out to 200mm. Depending on how close you are to your subject that may be all you need. And you'll only be a stop slower than a 2.8 lens. If you can swing a constant 2.8 lens, then by all means go for it.

**jpzk** · 11-17-2010, 07:20 PM

Originally posted by marubex

jpzk, i can't open the tread.. could you repost it?

I just tried it and it worked!??

So, I am reposting here:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-r-forum/122979-what-better-zoom-lens-k-r.html

JP

**jpzk** · 11-17-2010, 07:22 PM

Originally posted by DonP

With the range of useable ISO your get with the k-x/k-r, the 55-300 would work fine. It works as an f/4 lens almost out to 200mm. Depending on how close you are to your subject that may be all you need. And you'll only be a stop slower than a 2.8 lens. If you can swing a constant 2.8 lens, then by all means go for it.

Thanks Don.

Yes, this is one lens I have kept an eye on. Hopefully there will be one in the Market Place.

Of course, an F2.8 (70-200) would be great, but I don't think that the budget would allow that at this time.

Cheers.

JP

11-17-2010, 11:47 AM	#1
marubex Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 10	Lens suggestion... Hi I am about to purchase a k-r, what lens do you suggest for indoor sports? And do you think the kit 55-300 would do some otudoor? Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Graduation Lens Suggestion	scathontiphat	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	05-16-2010 09:29 AM
Lens Suggestion	cindaaalynnn	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	27	03-24-2009 12:56 PM
Lens suggestion needed...	alexeyga	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	10	12-28-2008 01:39 PM
Suggestion for a first lens upgrade	andrea_rm	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	3	12-14-2008 03:32 PM
Suggestion for the lens database	ftpaddict	Site Suggestions and Help	4	03-09-2008 08:14 PM

11-17-2010, 12:00 PM	#2
psychdoc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bham Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 949	Indoor sports = usually bad lighting = need for fast lens. What sports? If it is something like basketball, volleyball etc where you are usually able to sit fairly close you will be happy with the pentax da 50-135 f2.8 lens. I use it and its nice but depending on your needs it maybe either too expensive or not long enough. If not long enough look for a 70-200mm f2.8 lens. Dont have the 55-300 so can't comment on it.

11-17-2010, 12:06 PM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	I'm not a sports shooter, but I think the 55-300 does well enough in the right lighting conditions. Use TV mode, AF-C, and Auto ISO. Oct 08, 2010 - a set on Flickr As for indoor sports, look at something like the DA* 50-135.

11-17-2010, 12:11 PM	#4
marubex Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 10 Original Poster	thank you, indoor will be ballet, dance and tae kwon do..ç So i think i can get pretty close. Is 2.8 enough? I´ve heard people saying a minimun of 1.8? Thanks, I am really starting out

11-17-2010, 12:56 PM	#5
psychdoc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bham Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 949	Originally posted by marubex thank you, Is 2.8 enough? I´ve heard people saying a minimun of 1.8? There are trade-offs to going for faster and faster glass. If you shoot at 1.8, you will wind up with only part of what you are shooting in focus. Sometimes that is what you want. But not always. 2.8 is usually pretty good for most situations. You are getting a k-r, it should perform well in the less than ideal lighting conditions. Use shutter priority and play with the iso setting prior to the performance to see what you can get away with. I used to shoot indoor with at least 800 iso and often higher. My camera was the k2000 which led to images with noise and had to be cleaned up using software in the computer. With the k-r you should be able to get better images even with higher iso. I have shot dance recitals for my daughter. What I used to do was shoot pictures of the performers that went before her to find out what settings worked best so that by the time she came on I did not need to fiddle with the settings so much. If you are 'starting out' in the full sense of the word, take some tutorials at your local community college or from a photographer and learn the basics of manual settings and then take pictures as often as you can and you will be all set. Go to the library and simply browse through photo books and you will get plenty of ideas about composition. These things are more important. The camera and the lens are only tools, its more important to learn how to use them effectively.

11-17-2010, 01:03 PM	#6
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	This thread comes in handy as I just posted a similar one in the K-r Forum, and it is here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-r-forum/122979-what-better-zoom-lens-k-r.html Any suggestion(s) would be welcome! JP

11-17-2010, 02:21 PM	#7
marubex Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 10 Original Poster	jpzk, i can't open the tread.. could you repost it?

11-17-2010, 06:21 PM	#8
DonP Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 101	With the range of useable ISO your get with the k-x/k-r, the 55-300 would work fine. It works as an f/4 lens almost out to 200mm. Depending on how close you are to your subject that may be all you need. And you'll only be a stop slower than a 2.8 lens. If you can swing a constant 2.8 lens, then by all means go for it.

11-17-2010, 07:20 PM	#9
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by marubex jpzk, i can't open the tread.. could you repost it? I just tried it and it worked!?? So, I am reposting here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-r-forum/122979-what-better-zoom-lens-k-r.html JP

11-17-2010, 07:22 PM	#10
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by DonP With the range of useable ISO your get with the k-x/k-r, the 55-300 would work fine. It works as an f/4 lens almost out to 200mm. Depending on how close you are to your subject that may be all you need. And you'll only be a stop slower than a 2.8 lens. If you can swing a constant 2.8 lens, then by all means go for it. Thanks Don. Yes, this is one lens I have kept an eye on. Hopefully there will be one in the Market Place. Of course, an F2.8 (70-200) would be great, but I don't think that the budget would allow that at this time. Cheers. JP