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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-28-2010, 08:56 PM
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Thanks guys. But I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding. I don't ever shoot in auto mode for the basketball games. These were two separate issues I was frustrated about. There is where I know that I need the faster lens.
What I was referring to as far as the auto mode giving me problems is just random snapshots. I think I need to play around with it more in various situations to see when it is a problem and how to fix it. There seem to be some settings I just can't seem to get figured out (and remember), such as focus or exposure lock. I'm guessing I don't want to bail out on the Pentax until I get more experienced with the camera, then decide. My husband says I'm too critical about my pictures, so I'll just try to read more and learn more about how to do the things I need to do and keep working at it.
Thanks again!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-28-2010, 05:33 PM
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For the basketball, I've been using shutter priority mode, setting the shutter at 1/250 if possible, but sometimes 1/180, and pushing the ISO as high as I need to do that. In the well lit gyms, 800 ISO is fine, but those are very few and far between. The last game I went for the 3200 ISO! A few pictures were good, others were very noisy, which I expected, but thought I would take the chance.
I'm still figuring everything out and seem to learn things every time as I use it. It sometimes amazes me that I take better pictures when I don't use the auto setting. I think for now, a new lens is the way to go. Since I have taken some fairly decent photos (as far as the rest of the parents/coach, etc. are concerned), the coach and AD seem to expect them at all the games for the season! If I switched to a new system, I would probably still need more than just the kit lens, and I certainly don't want to drop that much money right now.
Now, what lens should I buy?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-28-2010, 07:24 AM
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I have been shooting with a K2000 for over a year and have some questions. I have been researching lenses to try to get a good sports lens for shooting indoor basketball games. I have been using a Sigma 70-200 4-5.6 with less than stellar results in most situations, due to the bad lighting in most gyms. We've had a couple games recently in a gym with skylights, and those are better. Anyway, I also have issues with taking pictures with the camera set to "auto." My feeling is that anyone should be able to pick up a camera and take pictures with it on automatic! Mine either end up too dark or blown out highlights. I picked up a friends Nikon the other night at a basketball game and just shot a few pictures with hers on auto and played around with some of the settings and seemed to get some pretty good photos. Also, I've noticed that the built in flash is not very effective at more than just a few feet. I'm interested in hearing opinions on whether I should concentrate my efforts on a new lens or start over with a whole new system. I know I could just use the manual controls, but that takes me a little longer and is not always practical for me for just taking snapshots at family gatherings, etc.
Any advice is appreciated!
Sheri
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-20-2010, 06:37 AM
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Thanks everyone for your advice. As my son's school basketball season has just ended, and he is not currently on an AAU team, I'll have to wait a while to start practicing again. My hope is to be able to get a faster zoom lens before next year, or at least before he starts playing in high school! I've gotten some decent shots with what I have (enough to impress some of the other parents!), but I'd rather enjoy taking the shots and not having to work quite as hard at it!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-14-2010, 08:37 AM
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I have a K2000 that I am still in the process of learning how to use. My last posts have been asking for help with taking pictures at my son's basketball games. Unless I'm in a very bright gym, I'm unable to get a fast enough shutter speed using my zoom lens, and even then, it's not great. At this time, I'm unable to afford the a faster zoom lens, but did find an older prime lens that works as long as I'm not sitting too far away. The lens I purchased (for $10) is a Pentax Asahi 50 mm f/2. I have gotten some pretty decent shot that once cropped, look like I was using a zoom. I'm working on exposure/shutter speed, and sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don't. My biggest problem is focus! I seem to get very few shots that are in great focus. Anybody have advice on focusing with manual lenses?
Thanks,
Sheri
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
10-25-2009, 07:53 PM
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I've tried to find the answer to this question before posting, but have not been able to find it addressed.
I recently purchased a 50mm f2 lens on ebay for $10, which I was pretty sure was a darn good deal! I've had a lot of fun with it this week, but also a little frustration. I've read the instructions on how to use manual lenses and have gone through all the steps. I have the K2000, so in manual mode the +/- button stops down the lens and chooses the correct shutter speed. It also seems to work in the Av mode by choosing the shutter speed. My question is this: how would I adjust to a higher shutter speed if the camera automatically chooses this?
Thanks for any and all answers.
Sheri
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
10-05-2009, 05:59 PM
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Mine did that a while ago. Then I realized I had somehow set the self timer!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
06-08-2009, 08:34 AM
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Well, I took all the great suggestions and took a lot more pictures at Sunday's game. Overall, I think most of them came out much better than the first set. Of course, of the many I took, there were a few decent ones (the beauty of digital). I still need to practice getting just the right shots at the right times, but use of the camera is at least getting a little better. I shot in RAW+, but these are straight from the camera. I have Photo Lab 3 as well as Photoshop, but need to find some time to have my 19 year old son show me how to use it for post processing. It sometimes amazes me when I see what he can do on the computer. Thanks everyone for all of the suggestions. Now I just need to save for a new lens!
Attachment 36601
Attachment 36602 |
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
06-02-2009, 08:37 PM
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Thanks for all the great feedback and tips! This is something I will have to work on, as well as investigating the possibility of a new lens. There has been a lot of useful information posted here and I will just keep experimenting until I get some decent shots (isn't that the beauty of digital?)
I am really interested in the RAW shooting and will have to read and learn more about it.
I'll post pictures again if I see very much improvement any time soon. He's only 12 and plays year-round, so I'll have lots of opportunities!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
06-02-2009, 06:56 AM
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Here are just a couple of the pictures from Sunday's game:
Attachment 36268
Attachment 36269
Both taken at 1/160, f/4, 3200 ISO, 0 EC.
I'll try again at this weeks game using slightly lower ISO, with possible adjustment to EC, and accepting the fact that I need a faster lens. What lens would you recommend for this type of photography and how much can I expect to pay?
Shake reduction was on.
In looking back at the pictures taken with the Nikon, I see that they are much brighter because the shutter speed was lower, but the action shots were blurry. I did get some decent still shots though.
Attachment 36270
I knew even less about using his camera than I do mine, but if I remember correctly, his lens was very similar to mine.
I agree that this has to be one of the most challenging lighting situations! There are so many different kinds of light in this gym, it tends to be slightly darker on one end of the gym than on the other.
I have a lot to learn, but I appreciate everyone's help. I guess now I need to save for a new lens!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-31-2009, 12:52 PM
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Alright, Jordan, I took your suggestions. I took so many pics that were bad, using all different settings. I used shutter and aperture priority, most were too dark. I used the "sports" setting: somewhat blurry (didn't quite stop action enough), but light enough. I used manual mode, adjusted the exposure compensation (which I don't fully understand, but it did help slightly). I tried ISO's all the way up to 3200, which of course came out quite noisy. I started out using my Sigma 28-105 IF 1:3.8-5.6 lens (all of that really doesn't mean a lot to me), then used a Sigma 70-300 1:4-5.6. What came the closest to working was the 3200 ISO setting on the Manual mode, F 4.5, 1/160, or at least I thought so until I viewed them on the computer, at which point they weren't as good as I thought!
The rec center I was shooting at is pretty brightly lit (halogen lighting I believe), but has lots of neon light signs, doors to the outside, etc. Am I expecting more than is possible with this camera and lens? I purchased the K2000 because I didn't want to break the bank and still have the ability to use my older lenses. I'm rather disappointed at the inability to do this so far. I borrowed a friends Nikon D80 (totally out of my price range) a couple games ago and, although still not great pictures, the lighting was much brighter without setting the ISO so high.
Any other suggestions or help would be great!
Sheri
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-30-2009, 09:40 PM
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Hello everyone. I just made the jump from a Point and Shoot digital to the K2000. I already owned a Pentax ZX-7 (which I never really ever learned to use!), with a 28-105 mm lens and a 70-300 mm lens. I haven't had much of a chance to figure out everything yet, but would like to try my hand at taking some pictures at my 12 year old's basketball game tomorrow. Does anyone have any quick tips for a novice? I don't expect professional results, but would just like decent photos of him playing.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Sheri
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