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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-06-2015, 11:00 PM
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Thanks Steve :D
Simon.
---------- Post added 08-06-15 at 11:04 PM ----------
Thanks Rob :D. All of these were handheld apart from the ones taken with my Sigma 150-500mm (#3, #7 and #10) where I used a monopod. A tripod is just not practical at a packed race circuit, and tends to be frowned on by organisers and other spectators alike.
Cheers,
Simon.
---------- Post added 08-06-15 at 11:05 PM ----------
Thanks :D
Simon.
---------- Post added 08-06-15 at 11:07 PM ----------
#6 took a few shots (by a few I mean loads :D) to get right, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out.
Cheers,
Simon.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-06-2015, 01:07 PM
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A little late with these thanks to a hectic work and family life at the moment!
#1 Speedy Porker
 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#2 Dave Newsham at Sunny Out
 2015 British Touring Car Championship - Croft Circuit by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#3 Classic Croft shot at Clervaux
 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#4 MSA Formula car
 MSA Formula Championship by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#5 Marmite
 Ginetta Junior Championship by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#6 Flat out down the start / finish straight
 MSA Formula Championship by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#7 Close racing
 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#8 Another of Newsham's photogenic car
 2015 British Touring Car Championship - Croft Circuit by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#9 Sherman at the complex
 2015 British Touring Car Championship - Croft Circuit by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#10 Battle damage
 2015 British Touring Car Championship - Croft Circuit by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#11 Flat out through the Chicane
 2015 British Touring Car Championship - Croft Circuit by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
#12 Another very pretty car
 2015 British Touring Car Championship - Croft Circuit by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
All taken with a Pentax K3 and a DA*60-250mm f4 or Sigma 150-500mm lens from the public viewing areas.
Cheers,
Simon.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
08-05-2015, 04:36 AM
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Well, so far my first foray into DA* ownership (with a 60-250mm) hasn't gone so well. After 3 months of ownership, I started noticing some wierd things going on around exposure that indicated the aperture blades were sticking. Then, the lens just flat out refused to AF, and the Quickshift manual focus ring wouldn't adjust focus either. After re-mounting the lens to my K3, it made a strange noise and then started to AF again. So, it's now sat somewhere in a Pentax service Centre in France (apparently that's where warranty work for DA* lenses bought in the UK is done - according to SRS). It's been away now for a couple of weeks with no indication of when I might get it back.
It's a real shame, as the output from the lens has been superb. I'd sooner it were replaced, but I have a feeling it will be repaired :-(
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-21-2015, 10:11 PM
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Not in my experience Steve. A Canon 70D, 7D and even the latest 760D will own the K3 when it comes to AF-C particularly for subjects that move erratically. Move up to something like the 7D mk II and the performance difference is even more pronounced. For what it's worth, I shot a Canon 700D with a 55-250mm STM lens alongside a guy (a Pentax ambassador) using a Pentax K3 + DA* 300mm at a race track last year with cars coming pretty much straight at us and braking from 120mph down to around 50-60mph. This was by no means a structured, scientific test and is a single (my only) example, but on that occasion the Canon setup performed considerably better than the K3.
To balance the above a little, here's a link to a K3 image on my Flickr taken using a Sigma 150-500mm. My thoughts on its performance are in the comments below the image.
https://flic.kr/p/vEnHrN
IMHO, if you want a camera predominantly for AF-C work don't buy a K3. However, if you want the very best all round APS-C body and only need to use AF-C tracking occasionally, then you can't go wrong with the K3.
Cheers,
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-21-2015, 04:46 AM
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Let me start by saying that the K3 is the best all round APS-C body I have ever had the pleasure of owning. The image quality from it is just superb.
Before moving to Pentax (via m4/3) I used Canon, shooting on both their APS-C and 1 series bodies. I shot motorsports semi-professionally for local and national publications in the UK, so I have a lot of experience of using AF-C.
In my experience the K3 (using SDM, screw drive and HSM drive lenses) comes a poor second with respect to AF-C to other brands. It can do it, but not nearly as well as the Canon equipment I used to use. Any motorsport I shoot now, I tend to pre-focus the old fashioned way because I simply do not trust the AF system to get the shot. It also struggles to keep up with my (very active) 3 year old son, particularly if he is running straight towards the camera. My advice would be that if shooting moving things is a high priority for you, then you may be better looking at Canon or Nikon because their body and lens combinations will out perform the K3.
So far I've stuck with Pentax because in the main I can work around the AF-C limitations, and in all other aspects it performs significantly better than the current competition as an all round camera.
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-10-2015, 11:24 AM
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Forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive
07-10-2015, 11:20 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
07-10-2015, 10:41 AM
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Forum: Photographic Technique
07-07-2015, 01:40 PM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
07-06-2015, 11:59 PM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
07-06-2015, 01:04 PM
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-06-2015, 01:01 PM
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Ok, I did some experimenting at my local racetrack with the AF-C ability of the K3 with my Sigma 150-500mm lens: -
 Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup by Simon Harrison, on Flickr
I used SEL9 with AF hold set to HIGH. The car was doing around 70mph, but the slight left to right motion will have reduced the speed relative to my shooting position by some degree.
The combination can do it, but with an atrocious keeper rate (less than 30% for what is not a difficult shot), so I certainly wouldn't want to be relying on it if I was a working professional. I normally pre-focus these types of shots, and to be honest will probably continue to do so the majority of the time.
Cheers,
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
06-16-2015, 11:30 PM
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On the cyclist example posted, I'm not surprised the AF struggled as there's really no areas of contrast for the AF system to work with. A black leather jacket and dark coloured trousers / skirt, coupled with what appears to be shooting into the light are really just setting the camera up to fail in my experience and opinion. The car example has more contrast, but you've again ahot into what looks to be a low angled sun which again robs the shot of contrast.
From these two examples, I'd be wary of drawing too many conclusions about the system being 'utter crap'. If you get similar results in decent light with a contrasty target, then I'd agree with you!
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
06-16-2015, 01:40 AM
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I'll add away from the camera as well, as both of these are really the most difficult scenarios for AF systems to deal with.
Simon
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
06-13-2015, 11:26 AM
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I think you've misunderstood what I mean. On other systems like Canon (I was a long time Canon user) predictive focus tracking (known as AI Servo on Canon) has nothing to do with the number of focus points active and works perfectly with a single focus point active. The focus system is able to determine the rate of change of distance relative to the camera and hence can 'predict' where to focus the lens to. This results in much improved continuous focusing on subjects coming towards or away from the camera. If the K3 or K3 mk II can't do this then it will never match Canon or Nikon in this regards.
The link makes no reference I can see to predictive focusing.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
06-13-2015, 07:59 AM
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I'd settle for a test of how well it can keep up with an active 3 year old like my son ��.
In all seriousness, this is the one area of the improvements that the K3 brings that I'm most interested in.
A question : does the K3 mk II have predictive focus tracking or just focus tracking?
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-11-2015, 12:51 AM
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Silverstone is an F1 circuit, and I'm afraid that means you will be a long way back from the action and usually have at least one catch fence that you have to shoot over, under or through. With only 200mm, you're opportunities for tightly framed shots without a lot of cropping will be very limited. Personally, I would go with a zoom - either a 70-200mm or the 60-250mm - to give you some framing flexibility, as you will no doubt have to get creative with your shots and use the fences, barriers, crowds etc around you for context. To be frank with you, I wouldn't even bother trying to take 'serious' photos on race day. The venue will be absolutely packed meaning moving around is almost impossible, and getting a spot right up against the fencing very difficult. I'd limit my photography to the two practice days and have a beer while watching the racing on race day itself!
Simon.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-06-2015, 12:08 AM
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A few images from the BARC meeting held at Croft Circuit a couple of weeks ago. Trying a few new (to me) things, so would be grateful for some constructive feedback.
#1 Legend
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#2 Standard Croft opening lap pack shot
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#3 Wide and slow (1/5s is the slowest I've ever managed!)
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#4 Flat out down the back straight
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#5 Chucking it into Complex In
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#6 Sunny Out
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#7 Wet start to one of the Legends races
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#8 A different view of Complex In
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#9 Bump drafting
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
#10 Complex Out
 BARC Championship Racing by srhphoto, on Flickr
Any comments or feedback greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Simon.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
05-01-2015, 12:04 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
04-24-2015, 12:53 PM
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Some great images in this thread ��
I've just joined the club with a 60-250mm which I'm really looking forward to giving a thorough workout over the weekend.
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-31-2015, 10:39 PM
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Personally I have no problem with the HSM moniker - it is after all how the lens is driven and in that regard is completely accurate. I believe the relative slowness is induced by the cameras AF module as it tries to deal with an f6.3 maximum aperature. The camera is trying to trade speed for AF accuracy.
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-31-2015, 03:02 PM
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I have the 150-500 and use it on a K3. It is the slowest focusing of all the lenses I have.
I think the slowness (particularly at 500mm) is down to the lenses maximum aperature of f6.3. As far as I know, all focusing takes place with the lens wide open and it only stops down to whatever it is set at as the shutter is pressed. At f6.3 there's reduced light hitting the AF sensors compared to f4 on your 100-300mm lens. I think it's this and not how the lens is driven that's causing the speed difference.
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
03-28-2015, 10:57 PM
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I've not had my K3 a year, but I would be looking for the following in a Pentax FF (or K3 mk II)
- improved AF tracking and wider AF coverage
- low noise at high ISO
- build quality and WR to at least match the K3
- articulated rear screen
- WiFi compatibility
- improved DR
- a sensible price (between 1500-2000 GBP - although reality will likely add another 1000)
I'm happy enough with the 24mp of my K3, and would only want more if it didn't compromise noise or DR in anyway.
I'd also love to see something 'left field' like a hybrid electronic / optical viewfinder or even a full blown EVF. With the superb legacy lenses available in K mount, focus peaking and magnified view for focusing as well as being able to superimpose a live histogram would be great. It would have to be at least as good as those from Olympus, Sony and Fuji though.
Just my thoughts.
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-06-2015, 12:35 PM
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I'm another very happy 150-500mm user. I tend to use the lens image stabilisation (and hand hold it), as it does such a superb job of completely steadying the viewfinder view. The following was shot handheld at 500mm:-
 Golden Eagle by srhphoto, on Flickr
I've found the lens super sharp at 500mm as well.
Cheers,
Simon.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2015, 01:25 PM
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Excellent review, particularly as I have been looking to purchase my first prime lens for the Pentax system.
Cheers,
Simon.
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