ZX-5 for Sports

jbrowning · 08-21-2016, 11:15 AM

Hello everyone, quick question for you all.
I have been shooting motorcycle roadracing in digital form for many years. Some of us photographers have decided we are going to shoot this next weekend old school in film (we all have SLR Film Cameras). I have a couple Pentax ZX-5 and battery grips. Do you think this is a wise choice or is there another 35mm that might do a better job at this? I will be shooting with Kodak TRI-X 400 film.

Thanks everyone
Jim

GateCityRadio · 08-21-2016, 11:26 AM

Depends on the burst rate you need and AF speed. Also top shutter speed if that is important.

Looks like pretty much the entire ZX/MZ series does 2fps...the MZ-S does 2.5fps. Looks like the Z-1p/PZ-1p does 4fps. If burst rate is important to you. I shoot mostly portraiture, so when I owned my ZX-L and MZ-S I really didn't pay attention to burst rate or how fast the AF was.

jbrowning · 08-21-2016, 11:30 AM

Well, I'm thinking I will basically pre-focus on a certain spot and shoot them in that spot. I'm thinking (hoping) the camera will be focused close enough that would won't be a huge amount of focusing to be done.

**pres589** · 08-21-2016, 11:33 AM

Unless you're changing your position a lot, I wouldn't think AF speed would be a big deal, as long as the lens you bring doesn't hunt. So I wouldn't bring, say, my DA 35 2.4 to this, because that thing love to run from one end to the other end of its focus length before locking in.

MF and stopped down should make the AF speed moot.

**grog85361** · 08-21-2016, 02:34 PM

ZX-5 will be fine. Just work with it's limitations.

If you really wanted to go old school, take a Spotmatic! Frame rate, exposure and focus up to you! That will separate the men from the boys! :-)

jbrowning · 08-21-2016, 04:27 PM

Thanks everyone, Spotmatic wouldn't work for me. I have a hard time manually focusing with my eyes. So at least focus must be auto.

Jim

redrockcoulee · 08-21-2016, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by jbrowning

Thanks everyone, Spotmatic wouldn't work for me. I have a hard time manually focusing with my eyes. So at least focus must be auto.

Jim

Plus the MZ ZX series have diopter adjustment.

leekil · 08-21-2016, 08:53 PM

Originally posted by pres589

Unless you're changing your position a lot, I wouldn't think AF speed would be a big deal, as long as the lens you bring doesn't hunt. So I wouldn't bring, say, my DA 35 2.4 to this, because that thing love to run from one end to the other end of its focus length before locking in.

I've had the exact opposite experience with the DA 35 2.4. That lens is very quick-focusing for me.

**gofour3** · 08-22-2016, 08:21 AM

Originally posted by jbrowning

Thanks everyone, Spotmatic wouldn't work for me. I have a hard time manually focusing with my eyes. So at least focus must be auto.

Jim

I've shot F1 races with my KX and K135/3.5 manual focus lens. You just need to pre-focus/meter on a spot on the track and when the car arrives press the shutter.

Works like a charm with a bit of practice.

Phil.

**ChrisPlatt** · 08-22-2016, 10:52 AM

I agree, autofocus can be a hindrance shooting sports. But use the Pentax ZX-5 if that's what you have.

I'd probably borrow my wife's Pentax MX with Winder MX because it's currently our only motorized rig.
I recently bought a very nice Nikon FE from Japan. The MD-12 is tempting; it's cheap now, and fast...

Chris

08-21-2016, 11:15 AM	#1
jbrowning Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 996	ZX-5 for Sports Hello everyone, quick question for you all. I have been shooting motorcycle roadracing in digital form for many years. Some of us photographers have decided we are going to shoot this next weekend old school in film (we all have SLR Film Cameras). I have a couple Pentax ZX-5 and battery grips. Do you think this is a wise choice or is there another 35mm that might do a better job at this? I will be shooting with Kodak TRI-X 400 film. Thanks everyone Jim

08-21-2016, 11:26 AM	#2
GateCityRadio Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 503	Depends on the burst rate you need and AF speed. Also top shutter speed if that is important. Looks like pretty much the entire ZX/MZ series does 2fps...the MZ-S does 2.5fps. Looks like the Z-1p/PZ-1p does 4fps. If burst rate is important to you. I shoot mostly portraiture, so when I owned my ZX-L and MZ-S I really didn't pay attention to burst rate or how fast the AF was. Last edited by GateCityRadio; 08-21-2016 at 11:33 AM.

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08-21-2016, 11:30 AM	#3
jbrowning Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 996 Original Poster	Well, I'm thinking I will basically pre-focus on a certain spot and shoot them in that spot. I'm thinking (hoping) the camera will be focused close enough that would won't be a huge amount of focusing to be done.

08-21-2016, 11:33 AM	#4
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,528	Unless you're changing your position a lot, I wouldn't think AF speed would be a big deal, as long as the lens you bring doesn't hunt. So I wouldn't bring, say, my DA 35 2.4 to this, because that thing love to run from one end to the other end of its focus length before locking in. MF and stopped down should make the AF speed moot.

08-21-2016, 02:34 PM	#5
grog85361 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Phoenix Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 893	ZX-5 will be fine. Just work with it's limitations. If you really wanted to go old school, take a Spotmatic! Frame rate, exposure and focus up to you! That will separate the men from the boys! :-)

08-21-2016, 04:27 PM	#6
jbrowning Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 996 Original Poster	Thanks everyone, Spotmatic wouldn't work for me. I have a hard time manually focusing with my eyes. So at least focus must be auto. Jim

08-21-2016, 07:02 PM	#7
redrockcoulee Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 2,306	Originally posted by jbrowning Thanks everyone, Spotmatic wouldn't work for me. I have a hard time manually focusing with my eyes. So at least focus must be auto. Jim Plus the MZ ZX series have diopter adjustment.

08-21-2016, 08:53 PM	#8
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Originally posted by pres589 Unless you're changing your position a lot, I wouldn't think AF speed would be a big deal, as long as the lens you bring doesn't hunt. So I wouldn't bring, say, my DA 35 2.4 to this, because that thing love to run from one end to the other end of its focus length before locking in. I've had the exact opposite experience with the DA 35 2.4. That lens is very quick-focusing for me.

08-22-2016, 08:21 AM	#9
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,088	Originally posted by jbrowning Thanks everyone, Spotmatic wouldn't work for me. I have a hard time manually focusing with my eyes. So at least focus must be auto. Jim I've shot F1 races with my KX and K135/3.5 manual focus lens. You just need to pre-focus/meter on a spot on the track and when the car arrives press the shutter. Works like a charm with a bit of practice. Phil.

08-22-2016, 10:52 AM	#10
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	I agree, autofocus can be a hindrance shooting sports. But use the Pentax ZX-5 if that's what you have. I'd probably borrow my wife's Pentax MX with Winder MX because it's currently our only motorized rig. I recently bought a very nice Nikon FE from Japan. The MD-12 is tempting; it's cheap now, and fast... Chris

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