Pentax K10D on a cloudy day....

strictlypentax · 04-28-2009, 05:20 AM

around 6:00 p.m. Does anyone else have trouble with the K10 needing an excessive amount of light in these types of situations? I had to kick my ISO up to 800, sometimes 1600, just to get a good exposure @ f5.6, ss around the 250/350 range. It didn't really matter which end of the lens I was, except of course at the shorter end, I could get f4. Seems like I shouldn't HAVE to go that high on f-stops OR ISO. Am I missing something, or is it the camera?

Thanks!

-=JoN=- · 04-28-2009, 05:23 AM

why such a high shutter speed?

**Ash** · 04-28-2009, 05:48 AM

At that time in the evening you'd have to expect to have ISO above 800 to capture anything handheld. But yeah, why do you need such a fast shutter speed anyway?

Usually shooting at that time in the evening, I'm looking for more static shots or long exposures to depict dynamic movement - so I can afford a low ISO...

strictlypentax · 04-28-2009, 05:52 AM

Originally posted by -=JoN=-

why such a high shutter speed?

action shots

Mile High · 04-28-2009, 06:01 AM

Sounds perfectly normal for a cloudy day.

dylansalt · 04-28-2009, 07:36 AM

The camera make is irrelevant - exposure is exposure - use any other cam in same situation (with similar lens) and it will give you similar exposure readings.

Dyl

WerTicus · 04-28-2009, 08:12 AM

so the answer is to get a faster lens!

Cosmo · 04-28-2009, 09:11 AM

Why on Earth would it be the camera?

It's just probably alot darker than you think.

strictlypentax · 04-28-2009, 03:04 PM

Thanks for answering my question.

Now, I am hearing I need a faster lens. The issue is the fact that 1.) I need a long lens because I am shooting sports, and 2.) I shouldn't HAVE to have a faster lens. Shouldn't 5.6 be fast enough to shoot outside in the light?? I guess that was my issue. It seems like 5.6 is plenty fast to handle outdoor stuff, even in the evening.

res3567 · 04-28-2009, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by strictlypentax

Thanks for answering my question.

Now, I am hearing I need a faster lens. The issue is the fact that 1.) I need a long lens because I am shooting sports, and 2.) I shouldn't HAVE to have a faster lens. Shouldn't 5.6 be fast enough to shoot outside in the light?? I guess that was my issue. It seems like 5.6 is plenty fast to handle outdoor stuff, even in the evening.

At 6:00 on a cloudy day, yea I could see the camera requiring a faster lens or a high ISO to get the shutter speeds you desire.

We had some of the worst flooding today here in Houston since the hurricane and I was at home testing a used old MF lens set to f/5.

It to did not want to go with high shutter speeds in AV mode.

It was probably darker than your senerio and I too thought there was plenty of light to have a faster shutter speed.

I was able to achieve 1/125 @ ISO 800 using f/5 shooting the bright but cloudy sky.

Everything else I shot(ducks in the pond) was way lower. Thank goodness for SR. The lens is a 100-300 Vivitar I bought to shoot sports and wildlife. This lens will work great in sunlight and so-so in cloudy situations.

If you can afford it, get a faster lens.

Bramela · 04-28-2009, 04:10 PM

StrictlyPentax, as I read you, I think you are placing your expectations far too high.. Evening light, cloudy , action shots etc etc and you say your 5.6 is all you should have to open the lens to. And then suggest, whilst using faster speed necessary for the action, suggest this ISO should not be so high???
Its not the camera, its the thinking of the operator is the problem in the case, as I see it.
No camera would be any different, given all the circumstances you describe.
Lower your expectations and your problem will be solved.

Paul Hunt · 04-28-2009, 04:28 PM

If the shots look correctly exposed, then I would say that the camera is doing it's job correctly.

If you are unconvinced, buy or borrow an incident light meter to compare. Shoot manually if you need to.

Paul

-=JoN=- · 04-28-2009, 04:55 PM

what sort of action shots were u trying to take? and @ what focal length...

just too many variables...

Marc Sabatella · 04-28-2009, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by strictlypentax

Now, I am hearing I need a faster lens. The issue is the fact that 1.) I need a long lens because I am shooting sports, and 2.) I shouldn't HAVE to have a faster lens. Shouldn't 5.6 be fast enough to shoot outside in the light?? I guess that was my issue. It seems like 5.6 is plenty fast to handle outdoor stuff, even in the evening.

It is - *if* you raise ISO to compensate. f/5.6 is fine in broad daylight at low ISO. It's not very good when light gets low, even outdoors.

Google the term "sunny 16" and see if you can find a chart listing the equivalents for different types of light. You'll see typical figures of f/4 for that kind of light. Meaning, at f/4, you would expect shutter speeds of 1/ISO. So in order to get a a good exposure at 1/350", you'd need ISO 350 at f/4 - or ISO 750 at f/5.6. That's pretty much completely in line with what you are seeing.

Look at this way: they make 70-200/2.8 lenses for a reason, and it's not for indoor use. Look on the sidelines at any professional sporting event, and you'll see the telltale big long lenses everywhere - that's because pro sports shooters know that f/5.6 just *isn't* good enough for shooting sports in anything but bright sunlight.

strictlypentax · 04-28-2009, 06:08 PM

Thanks to those who have answered my questions and tried to be helpful. I apologize for having offended some by my lack of knowledge or "expectations". It was in no way my intention to cause you any kind of offense. I appreciate those who are here to help me along. This is certainly a new aspect of shooting for me, so I am glad to have the ideas and suggestions. I will not be purchasing a faster lens due to the expense, but thank you for pointing out that this is my best option.

04-28-2009, 05:20 AM	#1
strictlypentax Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 98	Pentax K10D on a cloudy day.... around 6:00 p.m. Does anyone else have trouble with the K10 needing an excessive amount of light in these types of situations? I had to kick my ISO up to 800, sometimes 1600, just to get a good exposure @ f5.6, ss around the 250/350 range. It didn't really matter which end of the lens I was, except of course at the shorter end, I could get f4. Seems like I shouldn't HAVE to go that high on f-stops OR ISO. Am I missing something, or is it the camera? Thanks!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Cloudy Day Sun	teatma	Monthly Photo Contests	0	05-16-2010 06:34 PM
Little farm on a cloudy day.	ramiot	Post Your Photos!	5	07-18-2009 12:39 PM
Cloudy day, tern action	pingflood	Post Your Photos!	3	07-15-2009 11:31 AM
cloudy day flower ?	Igilligan	Post Your Photos!	14	12-11-2008 01:05 PM
Cloudy day flora	fevbusch	Post Your Photos!	2	06-15-2007 04:24 PM

04-28-2009, 05:23 AM	#2
-=JoN=- Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 999	why such a high shutter speed?

04-28-2009, 05:48 AM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	At that time in the evening you'd have to expect to have ISO above 800 to capture anything handheld. But yeah, why do you need such a fast shutter speed anyway? Usually shooting at that time in the evening, I'm looking for more static shots or long exposures to depict dynamic movement - so I can afford a low ISO...

04-28-2009, 05:52 AM	#4
strictlypentax Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 98 Original Poster	Originally posted by -=JoN=- why such a high shutter speed? action shots

04-28-2009, 06:01 AM	#5
Mile High Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 161	Sounds perfectly normal for a cloudy day.

04-28-2009, 07:36 AM	#6
dylansalt Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Durban, South Africa Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,052	The camera make is irrelevant - exposure is exposure - use any other cam in same situation (with similar lens) and it will give you similar exposure readings. Dyl

04-28-2009, 08:12 AM	#7
WerTicus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,514	so the answer is to get a faster lens!

04-28-2009, 09:11 AM	#8
Cosmo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 488	Why on Earth would it be the camera? It's just probably alot darker than you think.

04-28-2009, 03:04 PM	#9
strictlypentax Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 98 Original Poster	Thanks for answering my question. Now, I am hearing I need a faster lens. The issue is the fact that 1.) I need a long lens because I am shooting sports, and 2.) I shouldn't HAVE to have a faster lens. Shouldn't 5.6 be fast enough to shoot outside in the light?? I guess that was my issue. It seems like 5.6 is plenty fast to handle outdoor stuff, even in the evening.

04-28-2009, 03:21 PM	#10
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876	Originally posted by strictlypentax Thanks for answering my question. Now, I am hearing I need a faster lens. The issue is the fact that 1.) I need a long lens because I am shooting sports, and 2.) I shouldn't HAVE to have a faster lens. Shouldn't 5.6 be fast enough to shoot outside in the light?? I guess that was my issue. It seems like 5.6 is plenty fast to handle outdoor stuff, even in the evening. At 6:00 on a cloudy day, yea I could see the camera requiring a faster lens or a high ISO to get the shutter speeds you desire. We had some of the worst flooding today here in Houston since the hurricane and I was at home testing a used old MF lens set to f/5. It to did not want to go with high shutter speeds in AV mode. It was probably darker than your senerio and I too thought there was plenty of light to have a faster shutter speed. I was able to achieve 1/125 @ ISO 800 using f/5 shooting the bright but cloudy sky. Everything else I shot(ducks in the pond) was way lower. Thank goodness for SR. The lens is a 100-300 Vivitar I bought to shoot sports and wildlife. This lens will work great in sunlight and so-so in cloudy situations. If you can afford it, get a faster lens.

04-28-2009, 04:10 PM	#11
Bramela Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,284	StrictlyPentax, as I read you, I think you are placing your expectations far too high.. Evening light, cloudy , action shots etc etc and you say your 5.6 is all you should have to open the lens to. And then suggest, whilst using faster speed necessary for the action, suggest this ISO should not be so high??? Its not the camera, its the thinking of the operator is the problem in the case, as I see it. No camera would be any different, given all the circumstances you describe. Lower your expectations and your problem will be solved.

04-28-2009, 04:28 PM	#12
Paul Hunt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 81	If the shots look correctly exposed, then I would say that the camera is doing it's job correctly. If you are unconvinced, buy or borrow an incident light meter to compare. Shoot manually if you need to. Paul

04-28-2009, 04:55 PM	#13
-=JoN=- Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 999	what sort of action shots were u trying to take? and @ what focal length... just too many variables...

04-28-2009, 04:55 PM	#14
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by strictlypentax Now, I am hearing I need a faster lens. The issue is the fact that 1.) I need a long lens because I am shooting sports, and 2.) I shouldn't HAVE to have a faster lens. Shouldn't 5.6 be fast enough to shoot outside in the light?? I guess that was my issue. It seems like 5.6 is plenty fast to handle outdoor stuff, even in the evening. It is - if you raise ISO to compensate. f/5.6 is fine in broad daylight at low ISO. It's not very good when light gets low, even outdoors. Google the term "sunny 16" and see if you can find a chart listing the equivalents for different types of light. You'll see typical figures of f/4 for that kind of light. Meaning, at f/4, you would expect shutter speeds of 1/ISO. So in order to get a a good exposure at 1/350", you'd need ISO 350 at f/4 - or ISO 750 at f/5.6. That's pretty much completely in line with what you are seeing. Look at this way: they make 70-200/2.8 lenses for a reason, and it's not for indoor use. Look on the sidelines at any professional sporting event, and you'll see the telltale big long lenses everywhere - that's because pro sports shooters know that f/5.6 just isn't good enough for shooting sports in anything but bright sunlight.

04-28-2009, 06:08 PM	#15
strictlypentax Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 98 Original Poster	Thanks to those who have answered my questions and tried to be helpful. I apologize for having offended some by my lack of knowledge or "expectations". It was in no way my intention to cause you any kind of offense. I appreciate those who are here to help me along. This is certainly a new aspect of shooting for me, so I am glad to have the ideas and suggestions. I will not be purchasing a faster lens due to the expense, but thank you for pointing out that this is my best option.