[aslyfox]

seeing can be believing, enjoy

one of these is the Birds in Flight thread

BIF Photography - Page 64 - PentaxForums.com

the other is Bugs in Flight

bif: Bug in flight - Page 4 - PentaxForums.com

that one is included for laughs

[ks2user]

Perhaps it would be a good idea not to make unfounded "observations" with regards to the K3.

I'm sorry for touching a nerve... but let's play nicely!

I didn't make any specific observations about the k3.

I did say I felt that I would struggle with my ks2 from my canoe, and that the consensus view is that Nikon has better autofocus. The latter point you acknowledged. This night be important for an OP considering a new system who values autofocus tracking.

That isn't an attack on anyone and I think is a valid consideration. Even if it shouldn't be the only one.

It doesn't mean the camera can't do it well, just that other options might be even more suited.

All the more so on an unstable platform like a canoe.

I acknowledge my technique may not be up to yours and that safox 10 is old! But my ks2 BIF keeper rate is low even on a solid platform where I'm free to get the best position and posture and don't have to consider managing a boat at the same time.

With my lack of technique I personally welcome any advantage the kit can give me.

[str8talk83]

I'm sorry for touching a nerve... but let's play nicely!

I didn't make any specific observations about the k3.

I did say I felt that I would struggle with my ks2 from my canoe, and that the consensus view is that Nikon has better autofocus. The latter point you acknowledged. This night be important for an OP considering a new system who values autofocus tracking.

That isn't an attack on anyone and I think is a valid consideration. Even if it shouldn't be the only one.

All the more so on an unstable platform like a canoe.

I acknowledge my technique may not be up to yours! But my ks2 BIF keeper rate is low even on a solid platform where I'm free to get the best position and posture and don't have to consider managing a boat at the same time.

With my lack of technique I personally welcome any advantage the kit can give me.

I appreciate your perspective and it helps me weigh out all the options. I'm an experienced paddler, but you're right that it can be a challenge at times navigating everything on the water while shooting. This is why I only take photographs on slow moving water and virtually always take photos in the early morning or evening when there is (usually) very little wind. I'm picky so if the conditions are too rough or I'm in harsh sun, I don't even take any photos.

[Prairie Dog]

The K3II is a favorite of mine with a battery grip and either the DA*200 2.8 or DA*300 4. Compact, reasonably light and a pleasure to hold in hand all day on the flight line. I put a few images of (Thunder) birds in flight in my photo gallery if you care to look; not the best, nor the worst. I don't have any complaints about tracking, frame rate, buffer, etc.

[Ron Boggs]

Some of the dissatisfaction with tracking and otherwise "tricky" autofocus has nothing to do with Pentax. Tracking and other tricky wildlife shooting situations have so many variables, and so many tree branches, and and so many challenges that it doesn't always work out--no matter what brand the camera is. As you screw up a few thousand times you'll figure out when you should set up for BIF type stuff and when you shouldn't bother (particularly nice with an even or distant background, great light over your shoulder or from the windy side and high wind to slow the birds to a crawl). It took me a couple years to quit shooting "large bird--hawk?--perched in bare branches against gray drab sky--no markings visible." With wildlife and birds in particular, shooting from a moving platform on the water with no "set" like when backyard birding is a recipe for extremely fun days floating, but only a moderate number of perfect shots. Take your time and play Thoreau with a camera. It will be cool!

BTW, I find the K3II well improved over prior generations.

[C_Jones]

I have a K-3II and have used it for outdoor sports and wildlife. The AF and image detail/quality are excellent. I used it in combination with my Sigma 150-500 DG OS, which is not made anymore. If you ever decide to go super telephoto for your wildlife I would recommend the Pentax 150-450 lens.

[Glen]

I have the K3-II and I wouldn't think of it for anything that moves. However, and it's a big however, from reading comments of others and from owning or trying out different lenses, I really think that the lens plays a bigger part in this story than most people realize. Anyone who has tried the new 50-300 PLM will tell you that it focuses faster than anything they've ever used before. This is of course not the same thing as focus tracking but catching focus can be just as important as attempting to track a moving subject. I know that it is not considered a high end lens but it was reviewed here on the forum and it is a high value lens (as in the Pentax accountants' may have got the pricing wrong). Anyway you might want to give it a try. Other than that, only you can tell if weather proofing is more important than focus tracking. I love my Pentax but to be honest I wouldn't trust it to track an aging turtle. Others will say it's technique and I'm sure there are ways to improve focus but for me, if wildlife was of prime concern I would first give the 50-300 PLM a try and if it didn't cut it I would probably switch brands. That won't happen because I do very little wildlife photography.

[str8talk83]

Some of the dissatisfaction with tracking and otherwise "tricky" autofocus has nothing to do with Pentax. Tracking and other tricky wildlife shooting situations have so many variables, and so many tree branches, and and so many challenges that it doesn't always work out--no matter what brand the camera is. As you screw up a few thousand times you'll figure out when you should set up for BIF type stuff and when you shouldn't bother (particularly nice with an even or distant background, great light over your shoulder or from the windy side and high wind to slow the birds to a crawl). It took me a couple years to quit shooting "large bird--hawk?--perched in bare branches against gray drab sky--no markings visible." With wildlife and birds in particular, shooting from a moving platform on the water with no "set" like when backyard birding is a recipe for extremely fun days floating, but only a moderate number of perfect shots. Take your time and play Thoreau with a camera. It will be cool!

BTW, I find the K3II well improved over prior generations.

I really enjoy the experience of field work also. I’ve done the backyard birding thing and it has its place, but it’s nice to just be out in nature.

[mikesbike]

The key is, practice gets us closer to perfect, and there is no substitute. I shot a lot of photos using MF, because back then there was not yet any AF. I too have a K-S2, a very nice, well-built but lightweight compact body. I have used it to cover HS wrestling meets, but don't remember trying it with any faster action, though the athletes sometimes move quite fast. I sometimes shoot college and adult club roller hockey, and for that I generally use my K-5 IIs, which has faster and more accurate AF than the original K-5, at least with the lens I use for this purpose. I get a high outcome of keepers, and those not satisfactory are mostly due to my having missed the action. One has to be very timely on the tigger. That said, I think the K-5 IIs has a faster AF motor than the K-S2. But not faster than a K-3 II, though if doing much in the way of burst shots, it may be faster-writing and buffering might be somewhat better, due to its having lower mp and file size. But I rarely do burst shooting.

[noelpolar]

To be frank, shooting BIF with a K3 is not that difficult... I have one (K3) and a pre programed user mode set up on it for BIF..... the only aspect of BIF that the AF strugles with is birds moving in the Z axis (towards and away from you).

Anyway... I now specialise in BFIF (Bird feet in flight)

[str8talk83]

Thanks for the info. I mostly shoot large birds and mammals where the focus tracking is relatively easy. I think I can make the k3 ii work for me. I’m going to try to pick one up on the board and Set it up.

Are there any threads with recommendations for settings for birds in flight? Are the menus easy to learn or do you need a manual?

[C_Jones]

The K-3II is a good choice. As I mentioned, I own one myself. The settings I use for outdoor sports/wildlife are below:

I usually use AF.C, AF Point "Spot", "1st Frame Action in AF.C" "Release Priority" (Menu C3 16), "Action in AF.C Continuous" "FPS-Priority" (Menu C3 17), and "Hold AF Status" "Off" (Menu C3 18) with my K-3II. I also usually shoot single frame. Those settings are what I use for outdoor sports and wildlife such as birds in flight.

The camera menu is well arranged. A manual is nice to have for reference.

[gm4life]

I would go with the K3-II due to the minor improvements over the K3. Unless you need a flash built in. IIRC the K3-II has some auto-focus improvements over the original K3. Both cameras today (several years past there introduction) hold there own. The DA 300 * is an awesome lens. Priced right and punches way above its league. Have had remarkable results with the DA 300 * on my KP and K3-II.

[Tatouzou]

One advantage of the K-3II over the K-3 is the built in GPS. For my purposes GPS is essential to be able to locate the site of a photograph. YMMV of course.

As to AF, there was a significant improvement in the K-3 models over the K-5 models. Will it stand up to a modern Nikon in the tracking area? Probably not. Will it work well enough to get good photographs? Yes, though you may have to practice a bit and also set up the options properly for tracking which sadly are not documented well.

+1
My son and I we have K3, upgraded from K5 and K30.
K3 has more AF points (25 cross type +2).
K3 AF-S is fast and accurate, even in very dim light and with screwdriven AF lenses like the FA 31 and 77, or the DA limited lenses.
AF-C is responsive in the Z axis (depth), and allows for accurate focus even with wide aperture lenses fully open, provided the photographer tracks the target across the frame, using any of the 25 cross type point (single point AF). But the camera cannot be trusted for tracking the target across the frame.

[aslyfox]

The K-3II is a good choice. As I mentioned, I own one myself. The settings I use for outdoor sports/wildlife are below:

I usually use AF.C, AF Point "Spot", "1st Frame Action in AF.C" "Release Priority" (Menu C3 16), "Action in AF.C Continuous" "FPS-Priority" (Menu C3 17), and "Hold AF Status" "Off" (Menu C3 18) with my K-3II. I also usually shoot single frame. Those settings are what I use for outdoor sports and wildlife such as birds in flight.

The camera menu is well arranged. A manual is nice to have for reference.

links to the manuals for the K 3 II

Pentax K-3 II - Pentax K-mount DSLRs - Pentax Camera Reviews and Specifications

and for the K 3

Pentax K-3 - Pentax K-mount DSLRs - Pentax Camera Reviews and Specifications

can be found by going to the reviews under " Cameras "

or you could just click on the links provided