I thought Pentax wasn't good for shooting sports....

Saltwater Images · 06-10-2018, 05:35 PM - **4 Likes**

Yesterday was a dark, cloudy, rainy day on the football field. My aging K-5II and new DA* 60-250 performed well. The AF is slowish for initial lock but point-to-point was excellent. The lens is faster focusing on the long end (200 - 200mm+). These were shot wide open...

Last edited by Saltwater Images; 06-17-2018 at 07:06 AM.

Adam · 06-10-2018, 05:43 PM - **2 Likes**

Not as good doesn't mean not good

Nice shots!

**macman24054** · 06-10-2018, 06:16 PM

Nice shoots.

**ChipB** · 06-10-2018, 06:23 PM

Very nice!

Some years ago my son was involved in putting on alumni football games and I did some photo work for him. At that time I had a K20D and am pretty sure I used a Sigma 17-70mm lens. The daytime shots most all came out very good, but I did have some problems with the night games - camera would focus but then I'd get movement blur. So, for me - using Pentax (even older technology) to shoot sports worked just fine!

alcstudios · 06-10-2018, 06:46 PM - **2 Likes**

Sorry for the double posts, I have shot sports with mine for years.

**Tas** · 06-10-2018, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by Saltwater Images

I thought Pentax wasn't good for shooting sports....

Originally posted by alcstudios

I have shot sports with mine for years.

And this is why I hope you guys are posting here: Sports photography - single images - PentaxForums.com

Tas

C_Jones · 06-10-2018, 07:29 PM

I have also shot sports with Pentax successfully.

reh321 · 06-10-2018, 07:32 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by Saltwater Images

Yesterday was a dark, cloudy, rainy day on the football field. My aging K-5II and new DA* 60-250 performed well. The AF is slowish for initial lock but point-to-point was excellent. The lens is faster focusing on the long end (200 - 200mm+). These were shot wide open...

AF works better when you want it to succeed that when you want it to fail.

**Bruce Clark** · 06-10-2018, 08:24 PM - **3 Likes**

Don't believe everything "they" tell you.

I do a lot of Australian Rules Football for my local club, using K5 IIs and Sigma 150-500mm HSM. I have in AF.C, centre focusing point using back focus button. Sure it is fairly slow to lock on from one extreme to the other but one in the zone it seems to track fairly well. I think for my purposes keeping a reasonable depth of field f8 is the key.

The Sigma 70-200mm HSM is much quicker to focus but I do enjoy the greater reach of the 150-500mm

**ChipB** · 06-10-2018, 09:24 PM

Nice ARF shots!!

Wild Mark · 06-10-2018, 10:14 PM - **1 Like**

It is all anti propaganda. K3 with fa*80-200 f2.8

cjn314 · 06-11-2018, 12:40 AM - **1 Like**

I am from Aus but I am trying to shoot lacrosse for my local club. It definitely got a bit easier when I upgraded from the Pentax-M 400mm to the DA*300 .....

Saltwater Images · 06-11-2018, 02:11 AM

Originally posted by Wild Mark

It is all anti propaganda. K3 with fa*80-200 f2.8

Agreed. The FA colours are always amazing. Nice capture.

---------- Post added 06-11-18 at 06:42 AM ----------

Originally posted by cjn314

I am from Aus but I am trying to shoot lacrosse for my local club. It definitely got a bit easier when I upgraded from the Pentax-M 400mm to the DA*300 .....

The DA* 300 really delivers. Excellent photo series.

---------- Post added 06-11-18 at 06:49 AM ----------

Originally posted by Bruce Clark

Don't believe everything "they" tell you.

I do a lot of Australian Rules Football for my local club, using K5 IIs and Sigma 150-500mm HSM. I have in AF.C, centre focusing point using back focus button. Sure it is fairly slow to lock on from one extreme to the other but one in the zone it seems to track fairly well. I think for my purposes keeping a reasonable depth of field f8 is the key.

The Sigma 70-200mm HSM is much quicker to focus but I do enjoy the greater reach of the 150-500mm

I shot with the Sigma 50-500 back in 2008-2009 on a K-100D Super. Back then I had to use a manageable aperture (between f/8 - f/11) and manual focus.
Excellent photos. Nicely done.

---------- Post added 06-11-18 at 06:51 AM ----------

Originally posted by alcstudios

Sorry for the double posts, I have shot sports with mine for years.

Your dirt bike shots are superb. Which lens was used?

BethC · 06-11-2018, 09:43 AM - **1 Like**

I've often wondered if my sports photos would really be better if I shot with a different brand, because I too have always heard that Pentax was no good for sports shots. I get to be on the field every Friday night for my boys High School football games and have been taking pictures with my Pentax cameras for every game. I upload the full size photos to a site light Pixieset and email out the link so parents of other players can have access to any photo I might take of their boys too. I've never had any complaints or anyone suggest to me I switch camera brands.

jgnfld · 06-11-2018, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by Saltwater Images

Yesterday was a dark, cloudy, rainy day on the football field. My aging K-5II and new DA* 60-250 performed well. The AF is slowish for initial lock but point-to-point was excellent. The lens is faster focusing on the long end (200 - 200mm+). These were shot wide open...

Football in St. John's??? Not an everyday pic!

06-10-2018, 05:35 PM - 4 Likes	#1
Saltwater Images Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Newfoundland Photos: Gallery Posts: 501	I thought Pentax wasn't good for shooting sports.... Yesterday was a dark, cloudy, rainy day on the football field. My aging K-5II and new DA* 60-250 performed well. The AF is slowish for initial lock but point-to-point was excellent. The lens is faster focusing on the long end (200 - 200mm+). These were shot wide open... Last edited by Saltwater Images; 06-17-2018 at 07:06 AM.

06-10-2018, 05:43 PM - 2 Likes	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Not as good doesn't mean not good Nice shots! 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:

06-11-2018, 09:43 AM - 1 Like	#14
BethC Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Pennsylvannia Photos: Albums Posts: 377	I've often wondered if my sports photos would really be better if I shot with a different brand, because I too have always heard that Pentax was no good for sports shots. I get to be on the field every Friday night for my boys High School football games and have been taking pictures with my Pentax cameras for every game. I upload the full size photos to a site light Pixieset and email out the link so parents of other players can have access to any photo I might take of their boys too. I've never had any complaints or anyone suggest to me I switch camera brands. Last edited by BethC; 06-26-2018 at 05:44 PM.

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06-10-2018, 06:16 PM	#3
macman24054 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Axton, VA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 461	Nice shoots.

06-10-2018, 06:23 PM	#4
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,717	Very nice! Some years ago my son was involved in putting on alumni football games and I did some photo work for him. At that time I had a K20D and am pretty sure I used a Sigma 17-70mm lens. The daytime shots most all came out very good, but I did have some problems with the night games - camera would focus but then I'd get movement blur. So, for me - using Pentax (even older technology) to shoot sports worked just fine!

06-10-2018, 06:46 PM - 2 Likes	#5
alcstudios Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Albums Posts: 146	Sorry for the double posts, I have shot sports with mine for years.

06-10-2018, 06:57 PM	#6
Tas Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,202	Originally posted by Saltwater Images I thought Pentax wasn't good for shooting sports.... Originally posted by alcstudios I have shot sports with mine for years. And this is why I hope you guys are posting here: Sports photography - single images - PentaxForums.com Tas

06-10-2018, 07:29 PM	#7
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,077	I have also shot sports with Pentax successfully.

06-10-2018, 07:32 PM - 3 Likes	#8
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,184	Originally posted by Saltwater Images Yesterday was a dark, cloudy, rainy day on the football field. My aging K-5II and new DA* 60-250 performed well. The AF is slowish for initial lock but point-to-point was excellent. The lens is faster focusing on the long end (200 - 200mm+). These were shot wide open... AF works better when you want it to succeed that when you want it to fail.

06-10-2018, 09:24 PM	#10
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,717	Nice ARF shots!!

06-10-2018, 10:14 PM - 1 Like	#11
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	It is all anti propaganda. K3 with fa*80-200 f2.8

06-11-2018, 02:11 AM	#13
Saltwater Images Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Newfoundland Photos: Gallery Posts: 501 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wild Mark It is all anti propaganda. K3 with fa80-200 f2.8 Agreed. The FA colours are always amazing. Nice capture. ---------- Post added 06-11-18 at 06:42 AM ---------- Originally posted by cjn314 I am from Aus but I am trying to shoot lacrosse for my local club. It definitely got a bit easier when I upgraded from the Pentax-M 400mm to the DA300 ..... The DA* 300 really delivers. Excellent photo series. ---------- Post added 06-11-18 at 06:49 AM ---------- Originally posted by Bruce Clark Don't believe everything "they" tell you. I do a lot of Australian Rules Football for my local club, using K5 IIs and Sigma 150-500mm HSM. I have in AF.C, centre focusing point using back focus button. Sure it is fairly slow to lock on from one extreme to the other but one in the zone it seems to track fairly well. I think for my purposes keeping a reasonable depth of field f8 is the key. The Sigma 70-200mm HSM is much quicker to focus but I do enjoy the greater reach of the 150-500mm I shot with the Sigma 50-500 back in 2008-2009 on a K-100D Super. Back then I had to use a manageable aperture (between f/8 - f/11) and manual focus. Excellent photos. Nicely done. ---------- Post added 06-11-18 at 06:51 AM ---------- Originally posted by alcstudios Sorry for the double posts, I have shot sports with mine for years. Your dirt bike shots are superb. Which lens was used?

06-11-2018, 09:47 AM	#15
jgnfld Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,798	Originally posted by Saltwater Images Yesterday was a dark, cloudy, rainy day on the football field. My aging K-5II and new DA* 60-250 performed well. The AF is slowish for initial lock but point-to-point was excellent. The lens is faster focusing on the long end (200 - 200mm+). These were shot wide open... Football in St. John's??? Not an everyday pic!