K7 not that great

kittykat46 · 09-01-2009, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by HeavyD

No troll, check out my previous post in the forsale section. I sold my 16-45mm lens, grip/extra battery and Sigma flash to three other members on here. I sold my K10d body on ebay. I need a camera that will let me capture kids running around. I figured the k7 was the camera for me with it's high fps but the AF/ shutter lag is killing me, it's not really must faster than the k10d. Why do Pentax cameras focus, stop and refocus? At this point I don't know how to proceed.

I have 2 pre-school kids, and yes, they don't ever stop to let you take a photo. My kids seem to get even more boisterous when they see me holding the camera.
With the K-7 and DA 40 f/2.8 Limited, the AF is blindingly fast, instantaneous in practical terms. I've no problems keeping up with the kids.

You mentioned earlier about the Canon 30D with burst mode and flash. I've used the Canon 40D and 50D, and don't recall the flash recharge time being much different from the K-7's.
You must have used the 30D burst mode with flash / shutter decoupled - and you can do the same on the K-7 with the Custom menu setting.

KungPOW · 09-01-2009, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by raymeedc

Show this thread to the kids & explain the shutter lag problems you're having..... maybe they'll sympathize with you & run around at a little slower pace.

best answer ever. I'm still laughing.

jgredline · 09-02-2009, 12:15 AM

I was not going to say anything, but feel you are mistaken here.
first, I have a D700 and it compares very well in AF.C. In AF.S the Nikon is quite faster, but is also prone to miss shots...If You can't shoot kids with the K-7 then I am guessing you would also miss the good year blimp. The k-7 is pretty dang good at tracking. You also need to set it on selective focus for best results along with non macro lenses and preferably non sdm or hsm lenses. Yes the ole screw drive lenses are faster.

Secondly, good luck in your next venture, but be prepared to shell out in the area of 5K for a better canikon set up with 1 lens....

pcarfan · 09-02-2009, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by HeavyD

No troll, check out my previous post in the forsale section. I sold my 16-45mm lens, grip/extra battery and Sigma flash to three other members on here. I sold my K10d body on ebay. I need a camera that will let me capture kids running around. I figured the k7 was the camera for me with it's high fps but the AF/ shutter lag is killing me, it's not really must faster than the k10d. Why do Pentax cameras focus, stop and refocus? At this point I don't know how to proceed.

This is not a problem with a camera. It's user error. I can't find the post now, but even with either the Nikon D3 or D3x had problems focusing a kid. It is all about technique.

The K-7 is improved, it can definitely do AF-C as you can see in the post below (not my shots...it's MightyMike's). Plenty enough for me, but my feelings are the Nikons are better at this (sorry, just notice Javiers comments, so may be not), but if you didn't see an improvemnet wth the K-7 over the K10D, then you probably will be wasting your money with the Nikons as well.

Ducks and (Geese in repliy) [Page 1]: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

gnaztee · 09-02-2009, 07:48 AM

Originally posted by Samsungian

...irregardless...

This is not a word...

**Ash** · 09-02-2009, 08:42 AM

With 2 preschoolers, I can say it takes patience and foresight to get the right kid photos.
Have focus set early if they're in one spot and wait for the right moment to capture.
On the move, why not trap focus if light's good, or try full manual focus if not (I wouldn't even try AF assist - external flash or not with kids on the move).

i.e. getting kids on camera is 90% user technique and 10% camera/lens performance...

FullertonImages · 09-02-2009, 08:52 AM

Originally posted by gnaztee

...This...

That is not a word either... Sorry.

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-02-2009, 08:53 AM

all this talk about shooting kids and tracking motion.

I remember when the PZ-1 came out it had prefdictive AF, and with the power zoom a function called image size tracking, where it would zoom the lens in and out as a function of focus distance once the focus had locked on.

It all worked great, never had an issue until I decided to "test" it.

I put my daughter (then 2 1/2) on a swing, and stood at a 45 degree angle to the swing. I would have to say that I feel sorry for the focusing and zoom motors, because the computer simply could not analyze sinusoidal motion

If the test involves some motion like this, then of course the focusing is $#!?

We have already debunked the burst mode while in flash issue, you can do it with external flash no problem.

Focusing I think is also user error. I don't see how you can do comparative shots when you are shooting a moving subject. No two will be the same

FullertonImages · 09-02-2009, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by pcarfan

This is not a problem with a camera. It's user error. I can't find the post now, but even with either the Nikon D3 or D3x had problems focusing a kid. It is all about technique.

The K-7 is improved, it can definitely do AF-C as you can see in the post below (not my shots...it's MightyMike's). Plenty enough for me, but my feelings are the Nikons are better at this (sorry, just notice Javiers comments, so may be not), but if you didn't see an improvemnet wth the K-7 over the K10D, then you probably will be wasting your money with the Nikons as well.

Ducks and (Geese in repliy) [Page 1]: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

I'm going to have to agree. The k-7 is plenty fast in af-c. And for all the complaints about the sloower fps in af-c, it's not that bad. K-7 is still way fast in af-c tracking a subject, then the K20d was in any mode. Everyone is always saying 3fps in af-c, but I would say mine seems to shoot around 4 fps with about a 95% in focus rate. It's only slightly slower than in af-s. And I don't buy that your k-7 can't keep up with kids. I was shooting college level 100 meter sprints the other day, and the k-7 could keep people in focus would were running at full blast, and I was zoomed in tight on them at 250mm, so that's no give away.

Pentaxor · 09-02-2009, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by gnaztee

This is not a word...

I think it's a redundant word. very funnyful thouh.

Nick Siebers · 09-02-2009, 09:11 AM

Two kids --> take a lot of shots. I never use AF-C --> AF-S or manual. Bounce flash helps indoors to keep shutter speed at least at 180. Between 2-3 I mostly just shoot video if I really want to catch them - often moving too fast for stills - so maybe the K7 would help?

cardinal43 · 09-02-2009, 09:29 AM

Originally posted by gnaztee

This is not a word...

According to Wikipedia.....Irregardless is a term meaning in spite of or anyway, that has caused controversy since it first appeared in the early twentieth century. It is generally listed in dictionaries as "incorrect" or "nonstandard".

Pentaxor · 09-02-2009, 09:55 AM

Originally posted by GeneralBenson

I'm going to have to agree. The k-7 is plenty fast in af-c. And for all the complaints about the sloower fps in af-c, it's not that bad. K-7 is still way fast in af-c tracking a subject, then the K20d was in any mode. Everyone is always saying 3fps in af-c, but I would say mine seems to shoot around 4 fps with about a 95% in focus rate. It's only slightly slower than in af-s. And I don't buy that your k-7 can't keep up with kids. I was shooting college level 100 meter sprints the other day, and the k-7 could keep people in focus would were running at full blast, and I was zoomed in tight on them at 250mm, so that's no give away.

I was shooting a bird in flight some days ago. just to try out the AF-C speed. I used the 55-300 set at 300. guess what? the 3 successive photos running around 3.5 - 4 fps (approx. guess estimate) were all in focus, not to mention that tracking that darn bird was difficult enough because it was swooping and flying in erratic directions. the AF-C speed is ok, but had to pause after 3 or 4 shots when the buffer fills and empties out after a few sec. was using a slower card and jpeg was shoot at max resolution, max quality, and all corrections enabled (including lens and shadows). at standard normal and low settings with ON corrections, the buffer fills longer, so much more when corrections are turned off, so more shots can be taken is succession. shooting RAW would be much worse that shooting jpegs with the kind of card that I'm using right now.

PentaxPoke · 09-02-2009, 10:03 AM

Originally posted by HeavyD

but the AF/ shutter lag is killing me, .

You are using the term "shutter lag" incorrectly. Shutter lag is the time between AFTER a lens has focused, to when the picture is taken. The K-7 has no discernable shutter lag unless you are using live view. P&S cameras have shutter lag problems. DSLR cameras do not. The K-7 shutter lag is essentially zero.

Pentaxor · 09-02-2009, 11:08 AM

Originally posted by PentaxPoke

You are using the term "shutter lag" incorrectly. Shutter lag is the time between AFTER a lens has focused, to when the picture is taken. The K-7 has no discernable shutter lag unless you are using live view. P&S cameras have shutter lag problems. DSLR cameras do not. The K-7 shutter lag is essentially zero.

maybe what he meant was the shutter pauses after some time between shooting. I don't think that the term is shutter lag also but more of buffer fill. the shutter stops when the camera is emptying out the buffer. of course some people dont experience this with a faster card used.

09-02-2009, 09:55 AM	#43
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by GeneralBenson I'm going to have to agree. The k-7 is plenty fast in af-c. And for all the complaints about the sloower fps in af-c, it's not that bad. K-7 is still way fast in af-c tracking a subject, then the K20d was in any mode. Everyone is always saying 3fps in af-c, but I would say mine seems to shoot around 4 fps with about a 95% in focus rate. It's only slightly slower than in af-s. And I don't buy that your k-7 can't keep up with kids. I was shooting college level 100 meter sprints the other day, and the k-7 could keep people in focus would were running at full blast, and I was zoomed in tight on them at 250mm, so that's no give away. I was shooting a bird in flight some days ago. just to try out the AF-C speed. I used the 55-300 set at 300. guess what? the 3 successive photos running around 3.5 - 4 fps (approx. guess estimate) were all in focus, not to mention that tracking that darn bird was difficult enough because it was swooping and flying in erratic directions. the AF-C speed is ok, but had to pause after 3 or 4 shots when the buffer fills and empties out after a few sec. was using a slower card and jpeg was shoot at max resolution, max quality, and all corrections enabled (including lens and shadows). at standard normal and low settings with ON corrections, the buffer fills longer, so much more when corrections are turned off, so more shots can be taken is succession. shooting RAW would be much worse that shooting jpegs with the kind of card that I'm using right now. Last edited by Pentaxor; 09-02-2009 at 08:12 PM.

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09-01-2009, 10:29 PM	#31
kittykat46 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 923	Originally posted by HeavyD No troll, check out my previous post in the forsale section. I sold my 16-45mm lens, grip/extra battery and Sigma flash to three other members on here. I sold my K10d body on ebay. I need a camera that will let me capture kids running around. I figured the k7 was the camera for me with it's high fps but the AF/ shutter lag is killing me, it's not really must faster than the k10d. Why do Pentax cameras focus, stop and refocus? At this point I don't know how to proceed. I have 2 pre-school kids, and yes, they don't ever stop to let you take a photo. My kids seem to get even more boisterous when they see me holding the camera. With the K-7 and DA 40 f/2.8 Limited, the AF is blindingly fast, instantaneous in practical terms. I've no problems keeping up with the kids. You mentioned earlier about the Canon 30D with burst mode and flash. I've used the Canon 40D and 50D, and don't recall the flash recharge time being much different from the K-7's. You must have used the 30D burst mode with flash / shutter decoupled - and you can do the same on the K-7 with the Custom menu setting.

09-01-2009, 10:38 PM	#32
KungPOW Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,699	Originally posted by raymeedc Show this thread to the kids & explain the shutter lag problems you're having..... maybe they'll sympathize with you & run around at a little slower pace. best answer ever. I'm still laughing.

09-02-2009, 12:15 AM	#33
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	I was not going to say anything, but feel you are mistaken here. first, I have a D700 and it compares very well in AF.C. In AF.S the Nikon is quite faster, but is also prone to miss shots...If You can't shoot kids with the K-7 then I am guessing you would also miss the good year blimp. The k-7 is pretty dang good at tracking. You also need to set it on selective focus for best results along with non macro lenses and preferably non sdm or hsm lenses. Yes the ole screw drive lenses are faster. Secondly, good luck in your next venture, but be prepared to shell out in the area of 5K for a better canikon set up with 1 lens....

09-02-2009, 07:45 AM	#34
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978	Originally posted by HeavyD No troll, check out my previous post in the forsale section. I sold my 16-45mm lens, grip/extra battery and Sigma flash to three other members on here. I sold my K10d body on ebay. I need a camera that will let me capture kids running around. I figured the k7 was the camera for me with it's high fps but the AF/ shutter lag is killing me, it's not really must faster than the k10d. Why do Pentax cameras focus, stop and refocus? At this point I don't know how to proceed. This is not a problem with a camera. It's user error. I can't find the post now, but even with either the Nikon D3 or D3x had problems focusing a kid. It is all about technique. The K-7 is improved, it can definitely do AF-C as you can see in the post below (not my shots...it's MightyMike's). Plenty enough for me, but my feelings are the Nikons are better at this (sorry, just notice Javiers comments, so may be not), but if you didn't see an improvemnet wth the K-7 over the K10D, then you probably will be wasting your money with the Nikons as well. Ducks and (Geese in repliy) [Page 1]: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

09-02-2009, 07:48 AM	#35
gnaztee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 772	Originally posted by Samsungian ...irregardless... This is not a word...

09-02-2009, 08:42 AM	#36
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	With 2 preschoolers, I can say it takes patience and foresight to get the right kid photos. Have focus set early if they're in one spot and wait for the right moment to capture. On the move, why not trap focus if light's good, or try full manual focus if not (I wouldn't even try AF assist - external flash or not with kids on the move). i.e. getting kids on camera is 90% user technique and 10% camera/lens performance...

09-02-2009, 08:52 AM	#37
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	Originally posted by gnaztee ...This... That is not a word either... Sorry.

09-02-2009, 08:53 AM	#38
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	all this talk about shooting kids and tracking motion. I remember when the PZ-1 came out it had prefdictive AF, and with the power zoom a function called image size tracking, where it would zoom the lens in and out as a function of focus distance once the focus had locked on. It all worked great, never had an issue until I decided to "test" it. I put my daughter (then 2 1/2) on a swing, and stood at a 45 degree angle to the swing. I would have to say that I feel sorry for the focusing and zoom motors, because the computer simply could not analyze sinusoidal motion If the test involves some motion like this, then of course the focusing is $#!? We have already debunked the burst mode while in flash issue, you can do it with external flash no problem. Focusing I think is also user error. I don't see how you can do comparative shots when you are shooting a moving subject. No two will be the same

09-02-2009, 08:57 AM	#39
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	Originally posted by pcarfan This is not a problem with a camera. It's user error. I can't find the post now, but even with either the Nikon D3 or D3x had problems focusing a kid. It is all about technique. The K-7 is improved, it can definitely do AF-C as you can see in the post below (not my shots...it's MightyMike's). Plenty enough for me, but my feelings are the Nikons are better at this (sorry, just notice Javiers comments, so may be not), but if you didn't see an improvemnet wth the K-7 over the K10D, then you probably will be wasting your money with the Nikons as well. Ducks and (Geese in repliy) [Page 1]: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review I'm going to have to agree. The k-7 is plenty fast in af-c. And for all the complaints about the sloower fps in af-c, it's not that bad. K-7 is still way fast in af-c tracking a subject, then the K20d was in any mode. Everyone is always saying 3fps in af-c, but I would say mine seems to shoot around 4 fps with about a 95% in focus rate. It's only slightly slower than in af-s. And I don't buy that your k-7 can't keep up with kids. I was shooting college level 100 meter sprints the other day, and the k-7 could keep people in focus would were running at full blast, and I was zoomed in tight on them at 250mm, so that's no give away.

09-02-2009, 09:02 AM	#40
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by gnaztee This is not a word... I think it's a redundant word. very funnyful thouh.

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09-02-2009, 09:11 AM	#41
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Two kids --> take a lot of shots. I never use AF-C --> AF-S or manual. Bounce flash helps indoors to keep shutter speed at least at 180. Between 2-3 I mostly just shoot video if I really want to catch them - often moving too fast for stills - so maybe the K7 would help?

09-02-2009, 09:29 AM	#42
cardinal43 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,412	Originally posted by gnaztee This is not a word... According to Wikipedia.....Irregardless is a term meaning in spite of or anyway, that has caused controversy since it first appeared in the early twentieth century. It is generally listed in dictionaries as "incorrect" or "nonstandard".

09-02-2009, 10:03 AM	#44
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Originally posted by HeavyD but the AF/ shutter lag is killing me, . You are using the term "shutter lag" incorrectly. Shutter lag is the time between AFTER a lens has focused, to when the picture is taken. The K-7 has no discernable shutter lag unless you are using live view. P&S cameras have shutter lag problems. DSLR cameras do not. The K-7 shutter lag is essentially zero.

09-02-2009, 11:08 AM	#45
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by PentaxPoke You are using the term "shutter lag" incorrectly. Shutter lag is the time between AFTER a lens has focused, to when the picture is taken. The K-7 has no discernable shutter lag unless you are using live view. P&S cameras have shutter lag problems. DSLR cameras do not. The K-7 shutter lag is essentially zero. maybe what he meant was the shutter pauses after some time between shooting. I don't think that the term is shutter lag also but more of buffer fill. the shutter stops when the camera is emptying out the buffer. of course some people dont experience this with a faster card used.