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Showing results 1 to 11 of 11 Search: Liked Posts
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 08-26-2021, 06:00 AM  
K3 iii vs K3 vs K1 low light performance?
Posted By speagles2
Replies: 19
Views: 7,347
I had the opportunity to test out the K3 iii's low light performance for action photography last week at my daughter's night-time soccer game.

It's a fast moving game so 1/400s was as low as I was willing to go with shutter speed, and the lens was wide open at f4. When I realised just how dark it was, even under the lights, and the kind of insane ISO values these settings would require, I almost put the camera away, but I figured I might as well give it a go.

Photos from the night ranged from ISO 20,000 to ISO 64,000 (!) and I have to say I was extremely impressed with the results. I wasn't expecting to get anything, but ended up with a bunch of remarkably usable action shots.

As an example, the pic below of my daughter was shot at ISO 40,000. Subject-wise it was just a test shot, not a 'keeper' (unfortunately all the good ones include other people's kids, and I don't post those online) but it shows that the K3 iii is able to produce what I consider to be a very usable image of someone sprinting away from the camera in near darkness, which I find remarkable. Even more impressive considering this is quite a heavy crop of the original frame, as shown in the Lightroom screen shot below (and it's been straightened - ooops :-) ). I was shooting in raw with in-camera NR turned off, and just used Lightroom's standard noise reduction controls - I'm guessing you could probably get slightly better results with third-party noise reduction software.

I was also very impressed with the AF, which did a surprisingly good job locking focus and tracking fast-moving players even in the low light. It misfired a few times and racked through the whole focus range to find focus, which never happens in daylight, but this didn't happen often, and when I went through the photos afterwards there were very few that weren't in focus (albeit the general loss of resolution at extreme ISO values gives a bit more leeway!).
Forum: Pentax KP 07-05-2021, 04:47 PM  
Will there be a Pentax KP mark II ?
Posted By mikesbike
Replies: 112
Views: 9,876
This idea that the KP has been somewhat of a failure is simply not true. The fact is, there is no such thing as a camera design that pleases everyone and anyone completely. Some people are only comfortable with a camera of a certain size and holding only a certain way, etc. Obviously, those whose shooting encompasses need for dual card slots, and fast FPS burst shooting with a deep buffer, were not targeted with the KP's design. But this is also true of the K-1. Obviously there is a need for a flagship APS-C and a flagship FF design, as the two have distinct advantages, though they overlap. It is very common for a new model's sales to go slowly for a time until the price comes down. Though some are happy to jump on a new model right away, paying the full intro price, most people do not.

To further emphasize the attractiveness of the KP, the remaining stock disappeared in record time after the K-3 III came. This caused the price to increase- something I have never seen happen with an outgoing model, over many decades!!

What is and has been the main trend with the camera market? A big swing to mirrorless, is what. Yeah, there's the "smart" phones, but that kind of general photo taking need has always been there as in compact P/S cameras, which is what the phones actually do replace, not comparable to what mirrorless cameras can offer for serious and challenging photography. One of the major aspects of the KP's design and appeal has been as a DSLR alternative option to upscale APS-C mirrorless offerings. Close in size, with a little more weight due to the OVF, but having a wealth of features and superior control systems. The choice of grip sizes was another factor in its command over those mirrorless models.

---------- Post added 07-05-21 at 04:58 PM ----------



No doubt you are not alone. Many would have been otherwise drawn over into the mirrorless options. I have also seen many postings appear over the last 3 years or so expressing great interest in the KP after having shopped the APS-C mirrorless field. The KP has the tiltable rear EVF, which is useful when shooting on tripod from a lower angle to avoid having to bend over, as well as the OVF. It has its many other advantages in a still compact but very well built design.
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 04-22-2021, 06:20 AM  
New promotional video for the K-3 Mark III from C.R. Kennedy, Australia
Posted By c.a.m
Replies: 12
Views: 1,288
I thought this is a pretty upbeat promo for the K-3 Mark III. Walks briskly through the key features and advancements.

- Craig
















You Tube



Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 04-13-2021, 07:41 AM  
This is the Pentax K-3 Mark III
Posted By Kobayashi.K
Replies: 636
Views: 59,634
Most photos are taken with Custom Image Flat, which is designed for editing in post.

What is Custom Image? | Custom Image modes and functions
Give further expression with PENTAX "Custom Image" | RICOH IMAGING

---------- Post added 04-14-21 at 12:41 AM ----------


I think this could have been the reason of the delay we have already seen, and that Ricoh fixed this issue and then told us that the camera is available end of April.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 04-10-2021, 05:59 AM  
D FA 21 Limited is one of the three.
Posted By robbiec
Replies: 1,748
Views: 146,093
Not full on but with a clear gap between it and the mass market consumer orientated stuff. They are targeting Zeiss with the DFA*'s and Leica through the Limited series, while accommodating another market segment both don't dare attempt and that is the wild any weather adventure outdoors photography. The vision statement supports this, its as much a sensory and tactile approach to photography moreso than numbers and tests. Leica are the best in selling this philosophy and have done very successfully doing so. Zeiss are still regarded as the pinnacle in optical performance and are a useful datum for Pentax (still an Optical house remember) to compare against. Where Pentax have an advantage is ergonomics, use ability over Leica and the ability to tune a camera system to their optics over Zeiss.

---------- Post added 04-10-21 at 01:25 PM ----------



But it's a gradual accumulation of optics. Tougher for the recent joiners to the Pentax fold but if you've been dabbling for the last 10yrs or so like me, then you can pick and choose. The 21 fills a gap for me so I'll get it, the K-3iii has also piqued my interest if only that I enjoy using APSC sometimes moreso than FF. I don't have a bottomless money pit to draw from (other hobbies) but I've reached an age where value of enjoyment to me personally with a lifespan measured in years rather than months is preferable to something that has higher numbers, inferior build quality, inferior use ability and is superceded in 18 months. Pentax have basically said, look you'll get a new camera in your preferred format every 3 to 5yrs, your lens collection will be supported and if you look after it will last a generation or more. I like that, makes sense to me.
Forum: Pentax Medium Format 11-10-2017, 06:35 PM  
Post your medium format photos!
Posted By Tom Marvel
Replies: 20,374
Views: 3,152,942
Their turn can't get here soon enough
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 11-08-2017, 12:47 PM  
DA 18-135 mm lens
Posted By normhead
Replies: 70
Views: 8,028
The 18-135 is very sharp at 24mm edge to edge, if you shoot in the 20mm to 50mm range you didn't notice the corners weren't sharp because they they aren't. From about 60mm to 135 mm, the edges are quite soft, but I think it was anticipated it would be a portrait lens in this range, so even though it has excellent centre sharpness the borders are weak.

SO the first issue is, the 18-135 may not be sharp at all, depending on the way you sue it.
At 24mm the 16-85 will be about the same, a bit weaker but not noticeably so, by 50 mm the 16-85 will be stronger on the edges and weaker in the middle, but probably not noticeably so, at 85 mm the 16-85 kicks the 18-135's but, but it doesn't go any further. In the centre at 135mm at ƒ5.6 the 18-135 is still excellent for centre sharpness, but the edges are so bad, most reviewers just take an average and trash the lens, even though it still produces absolutely stunning centre sharp images.

Unfortunately the 16-50 has fairly weak edges until ƒ8, but has amazing centre sharpness. So it's all about how you use these lenses.

If you are like me, and the 18-135 suits your style of shooting, you have no reason to switch. You won't get better from other lenses. You're going to give up range to get what the other lenses offer. The only all purpose lens I'd consider taking it off the camera for would be the new DFA 28-105, which is excellent on a K-1, K-5 or K-3. But the 28 low end instead of 18 limits it's use on APS-c cameras.

But if I owned the 16-85 I wouldn't take that off either. And the various 17-70 lenses also offer some unique features in their faster apertures, for that type of lens.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 11-09-2017, 06:18 AM  
DA 18-135 mm lens
Posted By normhead
Replies: 70
Views: 8,028
The 28-105 just has that pixie dust, I still take my 18-135 on the K-3 out for hikes etc. when I want to travel light. The range is very convenient. But carrying a camera bag, I usually take the K-1 and 28-105. There really is nothing like the 18-135 for APS-c. Tess takes the 28-105 out on her K-5 quite often. It's all about shooting style. If you know you'll be shooing in it's range, it's the lens you use. It's 3D rendering stands out.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 11-10-2017, 10:21 AM  
DA 18-135 mm lens
Posted By normhead
Replies: 70
Views: 8,028
Isn't that the way it goes on the forum though, people who don't sell their images telling people who do what they should have to sell images. I've sold 18-55 images, point and shoot images. The quality of the image is rarely determined by the quality of the lens. Having the lens with you for scene's like the above is what counts. And honestly, my best lenses usually get used shooting birds at my bird feeder 60 feet from my back door, because I won't take them any where else. They are just too awkward and cumbersome. The 18-135 on a K-3 I'll take almost anywhere. The exception being when I want a waterproof I can keep in shirt pocket. And we've sold images taken with those as well.

We can tell they are point and shoot images because of sensor characteristics. Most people don't ask and don't care. Amateur photographers are the absolute worst at being picky about equipment. The people you sell to only care about whether or not the image pleases them. An image that appeals to them taken with a point and shoot is better than an image that doesn't appeal to them taken with a K-3 or K-1. Saying they would have liked the image more if it were taken with a better camera, is basically an untestable theory. It might be true, it might not. Sometimes the resolution of a lower res, narrower DR camera is just what the image needs to make it stand out.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 11-10-2017, 10:07 AM  
DA 18-135 mm lens
Posted By mattb123
Replies: 70
Views: 8,028
I really like the compromise of IQ vs. versatility vs. size/weight of the 18-135. Corner softness hasn't been a problem or even noticeable for me. I've sold a fair number of images made with this lens too. I use it for adventure photos and even lost one in the snow once. I considered the 16-85 as a replacement but decided to get the 18-135 again since it is less expensive, smaller and lighter, and has a more versatile FL range.

IMGP9178-Edit.jpg by Matt Burt, on Flickr

IMGP9546-Edit by Matt Burt, on Flickr

I recently spent a week on Kilimanjaro with a K-3 and 18-135 lens on it probably 95% of the time. I also brought the DA 15 and 50/1.8 for specific uses but rarely used them.
Forum: Lens Clubs 03-25-2013, 08:22 PM  
DA* Club
Posted By MRHPhoto
Replies: 5,898
Views: 942,637
I forgot to add one on my last post, it wasn't with my new flash but it's another experimental goofy self portrait with my DA* 60-250

DA* 60-250mm F4 60mm 1/160th F7.1 Iso400
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