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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-02-2017, 09:08 AM
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Awesome outcome! I have a pair of K-3's and the 18-135 and love that combo. The K-3 isn't the low light monster that the KP is but we are all a bit greedy compared to where we were with just film. 400 was fast for color and 800 was about as high as most color shots went before film declined. I think we have an embarrassment of riches compared to where we were only 20-30 years ago. Enjoy the lens. If you want a DA 55-300 several people have them and sell them from time to time. It will work on the K-r just fine. The PLM version only works on much newer cameras the K-3 with the updated firmware is one of those. See here, make sure you have v1.30 installed if you are using that lens on a K-3.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-28-2017, 12:51 PM
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I have a friend who says the 60-250 is the PERFECT soccer lens for a soccer dad with sideline access. I would have expected it to be a little slow focusing but he didn't find that to be a problem. f/4 constant aperture was enough for him to get good shots with the K3. But that's an expensive animal.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-27-2017, 02:47 PM
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There are some good cheap and free options but I'm not currently using them. What type of computer or tablet do you have?
Lots of people hate the subscription model but Adobe Creative Cloud is $10/month by the way. It includes Photoshop and Lightroom. DXO runs around $100 for the basic stuff, GIMP is free, PIXLR has a free version not sure if they have a cost for more features. There are a lot of choices best to start a thread just on that.
The point is you can dramatically improve low light options with your current gear by learning to post process raw files.
You can recover more from an underexposed file - letting the shutterspeed and iso fall into more acceptable ranges - using RAW than JPG.
---------- Post added 09-27-17 at 05:52 PM ----------
One word of warning about manual focus lenses. The focusing screens on modern DSLR's are not as critical as those in older film era bodies. They do not discriminate focused vs. unfocused as well. They compromise in this area to improve brightness. There are features that help. You can turn on "Catch in focus" on some bodies to help you slowly hunt for the focus and have the shutter automatically trip. You can also use LiveView on some cameras to help. You can swap focusing screens for one with a split circle area - This has some compromises including potential metering mismatches. In any case, I have used a similar lens and done so without too much issue. It is a matter of taste, visual acuity and persistence.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-27-2017, 09:39 AM
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The M 50 will work great as a portrait lens for your daughters.
How to use/meter Manual & M42 Lenses on all Pentax DSLRs (K-1, K-3, K-5, K-30, etc) - PentaxForums.com
As for the loss of color/contrast that use of high iso strains things. Are you using post processing software or taking the jpg's right out of the camera? If you aren't using post processing - then you would do well to try shooting raw and using some image noise processing software. You may find you can stretch the use of the current lens and body if you are close already. The newer PLM lens will not work on the body you have, but the older DA 55-300 would. As for the body, yes the bodies do leapfrog and you can wait for the next generation but I'd buy anything that is an improvement over what you have that you can afford and not wait for new cameras that may take a long time to arrive. I currently shoot a K-3 and while the KP looks nice I'm going to hold out. I can do this because there is nothing lacking in my current setup for what I shoot regularly. If I were in your place the KP and the K3-II would be on the list. I love the ergonomics of my K-3 and might be swayed to the K-3II but the KP is likely the better choice for what you have described.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-26-2017, 01:01 PM
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Lens 1 is the newest. It includes a different focusing mechanism that is very very fast and accurate. It also has electronically controlled aperture which is new for Pentax. The older version (2) is very similar optically but lacks this fast quiet focus option. Lens three (3) is not in the same ballpark optically. This type of "superzoom" has design compromises that make it hard to be great at all focal lengths but can be a great idea for travel or for a romp out without a specific goal and with limited tolerance for lens changes.
In my opinion. Lenses 1 and 2 above clearly outperform lens 3 in those focal lengths they cover. But they are still not going to improve low light shooting over the 50-200. The upgrade to the body perhaps to a KP rather than K3-II would help the most here. If that is still not enough, you need to look at the 70-200/f2.8 type lenses as well. These come at a high premium in price.
Read this article here: Fast Sports Zoom Lenses for Pentax Review - 70-200mm Sigma & Tamron | PentaxForums.com Reviews
Then read up on the newest Pentax lens in this space: HD Pentax-D FA* 70-200mm F2.8 ED DC AW Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews
Assuming you bought one - the same lens would stand in nicely for portrait work with the girls.
If you could not swing that then the PLM 55-300 plus another lens would do the job. Personally for a low cost budget portrait lens I suggest either the F or FA 50 f/1.8 or f/1.4 or the DA 70 f/2.4. The DA 70 is often overlooked due to the popularity of the more expensive FA 77 but it is a fine lens.
Lastly - lighting and technique and creative eye make more difference than anything.
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