What do you consider the best Pentax for sports and fast moving subjects?????

Gold Coast · 05-10-2018, 01:04 PM

What model Pentax camera for shooting sports and fast moving subjects including birding. I am not interested in the K1 series way out of my price range. Feedback appreciated thanks Bill

Last edited by Gold Coast; 05-10-2018 at 01:28 PM.

Adam · 05-10-2018, 01:10 PM

Probably the K-3 II. Everything else has inferior AF or framerate/buffers.

**BigMackCam** · 05-10-2018, 01:13 PM - **2 Likes**

Hi Bill...

Pentax continuous AF - as you probably already know - lags behind the major competition. No Pentax model is ideal for subjects moving erratically back and forth. As a result, you need to bring quite a degree of skill to the party, and not expect the camera to do all the work (remember, folks successfully shot sports with manual focus lenses on film cameras back in the day

). That could mean pre-focusing ahead of where you think the subject is heading, setting an aperture to give sufficient depth of field for minor AF or MF focusing errors, waiting for the subject to move sideways rather than toward or away from you, and a bunch of other techniques and tricks. Nonetheless, plenty of people get *great* results for both birding and sports photography with Pentax cameras - but skill is involved.

AF limitations aside, I guess you'd be looking for something with a fairly high continuous shooting rate and decent sized buffer. On that basis, the outgoing K-3II model (new or used) seems like your best bet - or a nice used K-3. I'm sure others will chime in with their thoughts, but that's what my gut instinct tells me

EDIT: I see Adam beat me to it, but with the same advice

rr1736 · 05-10-2018, 02:29 PM

I would recommend shooting in .JPG as the buffer will not fill as fast and you can get more images. Of course you lose a little by not shooting raw but at least yo might get the shot.

surfar · 05-10-2018, 03:58 PM

The next dual card Apsc Pentax! Whenever it comes.

Gold Coast · 05-10-2018, 04:36 PM

Sure wish they would hurry UP!!

stevebrot · 05-10-2018, 04:37 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BigMackCam

(remember, folks successfully shot sports with manual focus lenses on film cameras back in the day )

Originally posted by BigMackCam

Nonetheless, plenty of people get *great* results for both birding and sports photography with Pentax cameras - but skill is involved.

This last fall I was shooting next to a local bird photography enthusiast shooting a flock of white pelicans. She with a 5DIII and Canon "L" long zoom and me with the K-3 and Pentax-A 70-210/4. Things got interesting when the flock decided to suddenly leave the pond. Pelicans are fast on take-off, but we both got the same shots at similar quality. The main difference was that as the flock sped away, she was able to keep shooting away while I had to quit due to inexperience with that lens following fast stuff (first day out with a recent purchase). I don't know that I am particularly skilled, only that I learned photography with those techniques.

Take Flight | American White Pelicans taking flight from Car? | Flickr

Steve

C_Jones · 05-10-2018, 04:45 PM - **2 Likes**

I've shot soccer and birds in flight with my K-5IIS and K-3II. I use the AF.C (AF continuous) mode, set Hold AF Status to off, 1st Frame Action in AF.C to Release Priority, Action in AF.C Continuous to FPS Priority, Center (Single) Point AF Area, and I shoot in Single Frame drive mode.

Shooting action is not difficult for me with Pentax AF. If the user is capable of tracking a subject and is using the proper shutter speed, ISO, and aperture (F stop), nice results are not difficult to obtain. The amount of light available when shooting action is always an important factor which will influence outcome. The K-3 II is the advanced aps-c performer, but the K-5IIS does an excellent job. You could also wait for the next aps-c model to get the more advanced overall performance. My K-1 II has excellent AF, but I know you mentioned you were not looking for a candidate of that series.

totsmuyco · 05-10-2018, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by C_Jones

I've shot soccer and birds in flight with my K-5IIS and K-3II. I use the AF.C (AF continuous) mode, set Hold AF Status to off, 1st Frame Action in AF.C to Release Priority, Action in AF.C Continuous to FPS Priority, Center (Single) Point AF Area, and I shoot in Single Frame drive mode.

Shooting action is not difficult for me with Pentax AF. If the user is capable of tracking a subject and is using the proper shutter speed, ISO, and aperture (F stop), nice results are not difficult to obtain. The amount of light available when shooting action is always an important factor which will influence outcome. The K-3 II is the advanced aps-c performer, but the K-5IIS does an excellent job. You could also wait for the next aps-c model to get the more advanced overall performance. My K-1 II has excellent AF, but I know you mentioned you were not looking for a candidate of that series.

This quite a tip C_Jones. I think I'll give this a try. I don't really have much success when it comes to AF.C. Thanks.

C_Jones · 05-10-2018, 05:06 PM

Originally posted by totsmuyco

This quite a tip C_Jones. I think I'll give this a try. I don't really have much success when it comes to AF.C. Thanks.

You're welcome.

Update:
In case you are interested, I also sometimes use camera TAV mode when shooting in changing conditions, or camera Manual mode if the lighting environment is reasonably stable and I have ample time to use settings accordingly.

totsmuyco · 05-10-2018, 05:37 PM

Originally posted by C_Jones

You're welcome.

Update:
In case you are interested, I also sometimes use camera TAV mode when shooting in changing conditions, or camera Manual mode if the lighting environment is reasonably stable and I have ample time to use settings accordingly.

I'll give TAV a shot. Thanks again.

disconnekt · 05-10-2018, 06:15 PM

The K3II is great for slowish-to some somewhat fast sports, good for really fast sports. But it all depends on your shooting style & camera settings/lens setup.

Gold Coast · 05-10-2018, 07:19 PM

Great feedback thanks all. Bill

C_Jones · 05-10-2018, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by totsmuyco

I'll give TAV a shot. Thanks again.

You're welcome.

**pres589** · 05-10-2018, 09:08 PM

Pentax LX.

05-10-2018, 01:04 PM	#1
Gold Coast Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Burson California Posts: 61	What do you consider the best Pentax for sports and fast moving subjects????? What model Pentax camera for shooting sports and fast moving subjects including birding. I am not interested in the K1 series way out of my price range. Feedback appreciated thanks Bill Last edited by Gold Coast; 05-10-2018 at 01:28 PM.

05-10-2018, 01:10 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Probably the K-3 II. Everything else has inferior AF or framerate/buffers. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

05-10-2018, 05:06 PM	#10
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,084	Originally posted by totsmuyco This quite a tip C_Jones. I think I'll give this a try. I don't really have much success when it comes to AF.C. Thanks. You're welcome. Update: In case you are interested, I also sometimes use camera TAV mode when shooting in changing conditions, or camera Manual mode if the lighting environment is reasonably stable and I have ample time to use settings accordingly. Last edited by C_Jones; 05-10-2018 at 05:36 PM.

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05-10-2018, 01:13 PM - 2 Likes	#3
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	Hi Bill... Pentax continuous AF - as you probably already know - lags behind the major competition. No Pentax model is ideal for subjects moving erratically back and forth. As a result, you need to bring quite a degree of skill to the party, and not expect the camera to do all the work (remember, folks successfully shot sports with manual focus lenses on film cameras back in the day ). That could mean pre-focusing ahead of where you think the subject is heading, setting an aperture to give sufficient depth of field for minor AF or MF focusing errors, waiting for the subject to move sideways rather than toward or away from you, and a bunch of other techniques and tricks. Nonetheless, plenty of people get great results for both birding and sports photography with Pentax cameras - but skill is involved. AF limitations aside, I guess you'd be looking for something with a fairly high continuous shooting rate and decent sized buffer. On that basis, the outgoing K-3II model (new or used) seems like your best bet - or a nice used K-3. I'm sure others will chime in with their thoughts, but that's what my gut instinct tells me EDIT: I see Adam beat me to it, but with the same advice

05-10-2018, 02:29 PM	#4
rr1736 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chicago Illinois Photos: Albums Posts: 203	I would recommend shooting in .JPG as the buffer will not fill as fast and you can get more images. Of course you lose a little by not shooting raw but at least yo might get the shot.

05-10-2018, 03:58 PM	#5
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,141	The next dual card Apsc Pentax! Whenever it comes.

05-10-2018, 04:36 PM	#6
Gold Coast Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Burson California Posts: 61 Original Poster	Sure wish they would hurry UP!!

05-10-2018, 04:37 PM - 1 Like	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by BigMackCam (remember, folks successfully shot sports with manual focus lenses on film cameras back in the day ) Originally posted by BigMackCam Nonetheless, plenty of people get great results for both birding and sports photography with Pentax cameras - but skill is involved. This last fall I was shooting next to a local bird photography enthusiast shooting a flock of white pelicans. She with a 5DIII and Canon "L" long zoom and me with the K-3 and Pentax-A 70-210/4. Things got interesting when the flock decided to suddenly leave the pond. Pelicans are fast on take-off, but we both got the same shots at similar quality. The main difference was that as the flock sped away, she was able to keep shooting away while I had to quit due to inexperience with that lens following fast stuff (first day out with a recent purchase). I don't know that I am particularly skilled, only that I learned photography with those techniques. Take Flight \| American White Pelicans taking flight from Car? \| Flickr Steve

05-10-2018, 04:45 PM - 2 Likes	#8
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,084	I've shot soccer and birds in flight with my K-5IIS and K-3II. I use the AF.C (AF continuous) mode, set Hold AF Status to off, 1st Frame Action in AF.C to Release Priority, Action in AF.C Continuous to FPS Priority, Center (Single) Point AF Area, and I shoot in Single Frame drive mode. Shooting action is not difficult for me with Pentax AF. If the user is capable of tracking a subject and is using the proper shutter speed, ISO, and aperture (F stop), nice results are not difficult to obtain. The amount of light available when shooting action is always an important factor which will influence outcome. The K-3 II is the advanced aps-c performer, but the K-5IIS does an excellent job. You could also wait for the next aps-c model to get the more advanced overall performance. My K-1 II has excellent AF, but I know you mentioned you were not looking for a candidate of that series.

05-10-2018, 04:58 PM	#9
totsmuyco Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Iloilo City Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,276	Originally posted by C_Jones I've shot soccer and birds in flight with my K-5IIS and K-3II. I use the AF.C (AF continuous) mode, set Hold AF Status to off, 1st Frame Action in AF.C to Release Priority, Action in AF.C Continuous to FPS Priority, Center (Single) Point AF Area, and I shoot in Single Frame drive mode. Shooting action is not difficult for me with Pentax AF. If the user is capable of tracking a subject and is using the proper shutter speed, ISO, and aperture (F stop), nice results are not difficult to obtain. The amount of light available when shooting action is always an important factor which will influence outcome. The K-3 II is the advanced aps-c performer, but the K-5IIS does an excellent job. You could also wait for the next aps-c model to get the more advanced overall performance. My K-1 II has excellent AF, but I know you mentioned you were not looking for a candidate of that series. This quite a tip C_Jones. I think I'll give this a try. I don't really have much success when it comes to AF.C. Thanks.

05-10-2018, 05:37 PM	#11
totsmuyco Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Iloilo City Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,276	Originally posted by C_Jones You're welcome. Update: In case you are interested, I also sometimes use camera TAV mode when shooting in changing conditions, or camera Manual mode if the lighting environment is reasonably stable and I have ample time to use settings accordingly. I'll give TAV a shot. Thanks again.

05-10-2018, 06:15 PM	#12
disconnekt Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: SoCal/I.E. Photos: Albums Posts: 1,699	The K3II is great for slowish-to some somewhat fast sports, good for really fast sports. But it all depends on your shooting style & camera settings/lens setup.

05-10-2018, 07:19 PM	#13
Gold Coast Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Burson California Posts: 61 Original Poster	Great feedback thanks all. Bill

05-10-2018, 09:07 PM	#14
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,084	Originally posted by totsmuyco I'll give TAV a shot. Thanks again. You're welcome.

05-10-2018, 09:08 PM	#15
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Pentax LX.