Originally posted by RobA_Oz Without knowing a lot more about the issues you're having with the K-3 and the Tamron lenses, my first suggestion would be to get hold of a Pentax 28-105, which admittedly is a full-frame lens, but which seems to play nicely with the K-3 and it isn’t expensive. I can’t comment on the Tamrons themselves, because I don’t have either of them, but I do have the 28-105 and it’s very good in its own right, but a bargain (in my opinion) at the price. The field of view is more limited than your wider Tamron, though, and that may be a consideration, so perhaps a Pentax 18-135 might be a good option.
The K-3iii, of course, is a very big step up from the K-3 in many ways (and I have both), so that would be the ultimate upgrade for you, but it comes at a price (although not hugely different to the X-T4) and with a 5-year-old it sounds like you’re a bit cautious about such an outlay.
I should also say that the Pentax (nee Tamron) 70-210/4 (again, a full frame lens) also plays nicely with the K-3 (and the K-3iii), but it isn’t that cheap unless you compare it with the Pentax 70-200/2.8.
Thanks Rob
The issues with the tamrons are inconsistent focus throughout the zoom range, with both lenses. I can apply lens focus adjustments to help, but i lose focus (front or back focuses) at the long or short end depending on where I adjust it (obviously adjusting to a chart - not something I can do out when shooting) I have a pentax 16-45 that behaves as it should and thats what made us come to the conclusion of an incompatible lens.. CRK and a local camera shop have had a look and even checked the lens.. and concluded the same. Both tamron lenses are around 11 years old... and been used pretty hard. They worked great on my old K20..
Yes understood that the step up is big between the mk1 and the mk3 as is the price difference. 2900 for body and grip and then if i want new lenses too.. another 3k odd.. if I want big glass. I'll take a look at the other lenses.. but like to have the ability for shallow DOF and speed with the f2.8.. but more I want to start using the camera again.. not my phone. I bought topaz labs suite too to try and help. It does recover some but its not a magic bullet. I ideally want to drop into the local camera shop and hook my camera onto a new lens or 2 and see how it performs. Still remembering the camera is over 7 years old now....Main issue is nobody has stock any more.. so its hard to do... Reading the reviews on the 70-210 made me interested.. one stop difference, 1/2 the weight and cost too.. (compared to the 2.8) in comparison the fuji is 2.5k with 2 lenses (yes - starter lenses) or 1.8k body only..
My final concern is about dropping this much money into a system that I know isnt going to die, but development is not happening and I can see Pentax going niche.. increasing pricing further, relying on its awesome glass and useablility not to mention image rendering etc. Do I want to spend money now knowing that the next 'upgrade' I wont be able to justify the cost of a new body.. or lens etc? Probably me just being cautious... but something I was wondering.
As I have been told the best camera is the one in your hand that does the job you want.. I love pentax (and any non mainstream manufacturer) but the current camera is just mainly resigned to its bag.. as i get too frustrated processing the images to find most are not useable. A battle between heart and mind eh?
Steve
---------- Post added 06-10-2022 at 07:48 AM ----------
Originally posted by microlight Hi Steve. I had similar experiences to you when I went from an *istDS to a K-5, and then from the K-5 to my current K-3II. I couldn’t figure out why my photos were initially no better; indeed they were often worse. I then read in threads in this forum about the effects of increasing mega-pixelage on image sharpness, in that it was necessary to change my technique since the higher-resolution cameras were less forgiving. There was also the ability to fine-tune the focus on the newer cameras.
I had a 16-45/f4 as standard lens on the *istDS (I still have that combination, now unused), and couldn’t understand why the K-5 wasn’t doing better with it. After all, moving from 6 to 16MP was a big increase in resolution - about the same as from your K20 to the K-3. Following research here, I did two things; modified my shooting style to consciously use faster shutter speeds, and fine-tuned the focus on the lenses I used. The result was like lifting a curtain; so much so that I changed the 16-45 for the 20-40 Limited for the K-5. It was an improvement - but not as much as I’d hoped for.
So when I went from the 16MP K-5 to the 24MP K-3II, I went through the same process again, and the 20-40 … got better. The point I’m trying to make is that changing hardware in and of itself didn’t necessarily improve things; for me it was more learning how to get the best out of them.
Your mileage may vary. I don’t try to photograph active five-year-olds, which I think would be a challenge for any system. All I can suggest might be to think about your technique first, rather than spending shedloads of cash and potentially not seeing the difference that you hope for. 😉
Thanks Microlight.. our particular 5 year old is nigh on impossible for any system - when I say he is fast.. he really is. He doesnt stop moving from 6:30am to 7pm then he switches off.. so much so I say he i binary - he is either on of off. One good case for high res video
I understand what you are saying and accept older gear just doesnt work as well or at all with newer (and why should pentax ensure compatibility with old 3rd party lenses?) I'm not a pro, barely an amateur.. but like to use good equipment. I have no doubt my technique could be improved.. but with the following issues.. I have to have some new hardware along the way..
I have been through the adjustments with charts and different methods (even sending the camera and lens in for checking) and no matter what happens - fine adjustment works for some of the zoom range but then sends the rest of the zoom range into front or back focus. This is why i'm tempted to try new lenses.. that are designed around the newer higher res camera's.. i just have that doubt hanging over my head about throwing more money at the system. I also cannot try any lenses easily as nobody where I live stocks them.. so I go cheaper second hand and hope for the best or order in, pay the $$'s and may still have a dud camera!
Steve