dosdan

With a close, fast-approaching subject e.g. at the edge of the sandpit shooting long jumpers head-on, both lens can not fully keep up with the subject during a long burst. Usually both loose focus in 1-2 of the airborne shots, but often get the 1st or 2nd part of the landing in the sand OK because the subject's forward motion has slowed by then. So out of a 5-7 shot sequence, typ. 3-5 are in focus.

I'm shooting most sports now at 1/1000s if the light is sufficient. This is not fast enough for fast panning or for both player-and-fast-kicked-ball in-focus, particularly with the K3. In these situations I fix it in PP, on unsharpened TIFFs outputted from PEFs, using FocusMagic in motion-blur correction mode. I can correct up to 20px of blur. Unless it's a simple situation, I create separate layers and apply different amounts (and sometimes directions) of motion correction (e.g. players in front of the gaol leaping up to head a crossing soccer ball from a corner kick.)

Richard, I owned both lenses not for over 2 years. I'm still not sure which I prefer.

Generally I use the 60-250 because it's weather resistant and because of its greater FL range. It's also lighter.

The 70-200 (HSM Mk. II, the old non-OS version) is nice for LL, indoors sports (e.g. futsal) or when I specifically want the shallow DOF look. This look is enticing, particularly for solo subjects, but a lot of my stuff is the interaction of 2 or more players. Focus misses are more likely when you are trying to capture both the ball and 2 or more players, and focus near-misses look bad at f/2.8-f/3.4.

Usually, if the light is reasonably good I use the 60-250 @ f/6.3-/f7.1 to better cater for group interactions.

Hi Dosdan,

You have an impressive sports portfolio. I wanted to get your opinion of how the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 compares to the DA* 60-250mm on the K3 since you have both if I remember reading correctly? I'm looking to purchase the Sigma probably because of the faster AF but also worry about how soft it is.

How do you feel now several months later?

Cheers,
Richard

Good to meet you today. I ended up taking 1/2 dozen pics of my grand daughter in 200. Then went home. Came out good. Catch up again one day. Cheers. Keith

Thanks an old post re problem loadin silkypix has done the trick.thanks again Foggy.

Dan,
Thought you might be interested to hear that there's a photowalk arranged in brisbane for the "world wide photowalk" event. I've signed up, and thought you might like to bring it to the attention of the rest of the SEQ pentax group.
Brisbane, QLD Australia (Botanic Gardens entrance) | Worldwide Photo Walk

Adam

Hi Dan. Thank you for the letter of welcome to the group. My brother Keith (K10) and his wife Margaret (KX) are regularly in contact with Grant (Mallee Boy).
Work permitting I hope to catch up with all of you one day.

Regards
Tony

Thanks for the info on how to use my old lenses. When I get the new camera, I will try them out (although it doesn't appear straight forward). If I am looking for some lenses in the future from ebay or cash converters (pawn shop) second hand, what are the easiest to use with a DSLR from the older film SLR's? (eg, I'm looking at an MZ 60 and a MZ 50 both come with 28-80 and 100-300 Sigma zoom lenses).