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Forum: Pentax KP
03-26-2020, 06:45 PM
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I figured out what was going on. When I push the AF Mode, the dial on the front of the camera changes the AF mode (AF S, AF C, AF A) and the dial on the back of the camera changes the focus points (27, 9, spot, etc). You can also change the focus points through the menu. Not sure if AF Mode using the dial is the default setup or if the person I bought this from recently had it set up that way. Anyway, I figured it out.
Now I just need to figure out which mode is best for my kids soccer and basketball games - when they are able to start playing again...
---------- Post added 03-26-20 at 06:50 PM ----------
So you're saying that if I have it in AF C mode and then SEL mode with the red dot in the center, if I focus on a moving object (e.g soccer player), it should maintain focus on that player?
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Forum: Pentax KP
03-25-2020, 08:59 PM
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Sorry for the stupid question, but I'm trying to understand the autofocus settings in the menu (AF Active Area) vs the settings that can be changed by the AF Mode button.
For example, what's the difference if I have the AF Active Area set on "auto 27" and the AF Mode on "Spot" vs AF Active Area set on "Spot" (single dot icon) and AF Mode on "Spot"?
I have read the menu and I can't figure it out. Maybe because it's too late in the evening after a long work day...
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Forum: Pentax KP
03-22-2020, 09:28 AM
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I like the idea of keeping a notepad and jot things down as you read through the manual. It's overwhelming to try to remember everything especially if you're not using the camera on a regular basis.
I use TAv quite often in my sports photography so I can set shutter and fstop where I want it and let the ISO do it's thing.
I was trying to figure out if there were any particular customizations people used with the buttons to quickly change settings without needing to use the menu. i've never really looked into that, but plan to do that now with this camera.
It appears to me the function button can be used for these purposes. For example I used the HDR mode last night and learned that the mode dial lets you quickly change which HDR setting to use. Much quicker than fiddling with the menu. So now I need to figure out what i want to do with C1, 2 and 3.
Reading through the manual is painful but best done as a reference and just figuring out how to do on thing at a time.
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Forum: Pentax KP
03-21-2020, 11:21 AM
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Thanks. I've been reading through the review and at least have a basic understanding of the dials now. So maybe someone can give me an example of a customization that they find helpful just to give me an idea how people customize their camera.
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Forum: Pentax KP
03-21-2020, 08:21 AM
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I'm a new KP owner. I previously owned the K30 but never got into any customization besides back button focus. I'm overwhelmed with all the possibilities with the KP. I don't even know what the dial with the C1/C2/C3 is used for. I tried reading through the manual, but holy smokes - I think I'd rather read War and Peace! I think I'll use it more as a reference when I have some ideas of what i want to do.
Anybody know of a youtube video or another website that helps somebody get started that isn't well versed in how or why you would customize your camera. Or maybe for me, ignorance is bliss and I just stick with the basics. But at this point, I don't even know what setting to put the top right dial on. I bought it used and it's on C1 at the moment.
I was excited about shooting my daughters' soccer games but those got completely shut down, like everything else, immediately after I bought it. The last person I shook hands with....
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-10-2020, 08:54 PM
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Thanks for the advice on the fine sharpening. I prefer jpegs for my sports photography because it's a lot of photos to go through and process. I've only started dabbling with RAW and post processing recently. My high school buddy started the On1 photo editing software so I've started using that recently. But it takes a lot of time to post process. I'm too busy driving kids around to soccer games and basketball games!
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Forum: Pentax KP
03-10-2020, 06:20 AM
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I upgraded from my K30. I really consider myself still a novice even though I've dabbled in photography since I was a kid - started out with the K-1000. So I'll probably be on here asking all sorts of stupid questions. I just downloaded the 148 pg manual... I never played much with the settings on the K30 other than the basics like fstop, focus points and back button focus.
One question to start off: Does anybody shoot sports photography? Curious what focus settings people use or other settings I should be aware of. I shoot basketball and soccer (both my daughters play). I have a sigma 70-200mm 2.8 and a tamron 18-50 2.8. I got the 18-135 lens with the camera but not sure it will be fast enough inside for basketball. One thing I don't like so far is the location of the back button focus. Hopefully I can get used to it. It seems too high up for a comfortable position.
Happy to be part of the KP club. I live in the Salem, OR area BTW.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-10-2020, 06:00 AM
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Thanks everyone. I ended up purchasing the KP with the 18-135 lens. The guy lived in Oregon so we were able to meet in person last night. I know the basics when it comes to photography but didn't play with much of the settings on my k30 so I'm going to have to become a KP student to figure out how to best use that camera. Should be fun!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-08-2020, 07:39 PM
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This review doesn't speak highly of the autofocus for sporting situations using focus tracking -AF-C. But maybe the k3-ii is in the same boat? It appears the KP would do much better in low light/high ISO situations like in crappy lit basketball gyms. But also wondering about its smallish size with a 70-200 2.8 lens on the end of it. I realize pentax is known for sports photography, but it's what I have and I'm not going to change.
Pentax KP Review: Digital Photography Review |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-08-2020, 09:30 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-07-2020, 11:03 PM
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Thanks for the replies. There's a KP with an 18-135 lens for $675. I don't need the lens but could maybe sell it to help bring the price of the body down. For basketball, I sit under the baseline close to the action on offense so my 17-50 is my go to lens from that position. Pentax KP w/ 18-135 *PRICE DROP* - PentaxForums.com |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-07-2020, 04:13 PM
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Totally amateur photographer here shooting my kids basketball and soccer games. I typically distribute the e-photos to families throughout the season but nothing that gets printed or anything.
I shoot with a K30 and a sigma 70-200 lens and a tamron 17-50 lens. I am considering upgrading to something better but not sure how much improvement I'd get with something else - I don't consider myself a skilled photographer. I read another forum that recommended the K-3 II for sports photography. But not sure how much of an upgrade that would be over the K30 or maybe the K-3 would be almost as good at a cheaper price. The idea of having two camera bodies by my side is appealing though - the K30 with the 17-50 and the Kxx with the 70-200.
I'd like to stick below $500 for the body and buying used is fine with me.
Thanks for any input.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
09-11-2016, 03:38 PM
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Holy smokes - thanks for all the suggestions. I've got several questions based on the comments:
1. How does changing the autofocus to the AF button help?
2. I'm not aware of fine tuning? Is there a way to correct the lens if it's not focusing properly?
3. I read an older post where he set his focus as follows for basketball games: Expanded AF (very handy) + selectable point AF + Continuous Focus + Continuous Focus Priority set to FPS over accuracy. Any thoughts?
4. I'm wondering if I'd have better luck with the Sigma 70-200 or perhaps it's just I need a lot more practice...
thanks again
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
09-11-2016, 07:53 AM
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I'm having focusing issues with my Tamron 70-200 for my girls' soccer games. I'm sure much of it is just my lack of skill. But I attached one photo where the center is out of focus when I'm sure that's where I was focusing. I've attached a few other examples. I'm lucky to get 50% in focus. Sometimes there is nothing in the photo that is in focus. I shoot at f2.8 to try to blur out the background so I'm sure that makes focusing more challenging. Any thoughts on autofocus settings would be greatly appreciated. I've tried a number of different settings but I haven't noticed much difference in my in focus percentage.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-07-2015, 09:51 PM
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What lens did you use for that first photo of the waxwing and for that matter, for many of your other birding photos. They're so sharp! Probably way more expensive than what I have in the bag.
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Forum: Sold Items
10-11-2014, 06:47 AM
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I'm assuming these are both Pentax mount lenses?
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
08-10-2013, 06:19 PM
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I was just about ready to pull the trigger on the k-500 until I saw this post. Just ordered the k-30 with the WR lens from Hunts for $499. Should come sometime next week. I don't need the WR part of the camera or lens - I'm a fair weather man and I'm barely an amateur photographer. So maybe I can sell the WR lens and get a decent zoom or the 50mm 1.8 on sale now for $180. Not sure how my wife will react - but too late now!
Thanks for the info on this great deal!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-10-2013, 05:21 PM
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Can you purchase just the body? I don't need another 18-55mm lens.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-04-2013, 09:32 PM
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Crap, I just read some more about it in the lens specs and it appears it will turn into a manual focus lens on the K100D. So now I have to see if there's another decent zoom lens or do I need to buy a new body? Any thoughts? Of course - easy decision if money is not an issue...or my wife is not an issue...
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-04-2013, 09:25 PM
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I have the Pentax K100D (not the super) and from what I'm reading it looks like it would not be compatible with the SDM lenses like the Sigma 18-250mm I was considering buying. Does this mean it turns into a manual focus lens on the K100D or does it just not take advantage of the SDM focus and use the camera body focus?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-10-2013, 02:48 PM
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I got it now. So essentially I would need a 49mm, 52mm, and 58mm adapter ring for my three lenses. And since I have the 58mm ring, it sounds like I'd need to go with the P series. Are their filters considered to be fairly high quality? I'm just an amateur with lower end equipment so I'm not looking for anything professional grade.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-10-2013, 11:17 AM
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Thanks for the replies. The step up rings make sense to me. I've tried to look at the Cokin filters, in fact I discovered I had one I purchase eons ago. However it doesn't fit any of my current lenses. Not sure what diameter it is, but it's slighly larger than my 52mm lens. Wouldn't you still need a step up ring to use the Cokin filter? It would screw into your existing lens just like a standard filter correct?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-09-2013, 10:47 PM
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Maybe it's just something specific to my low end K100D.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-09-2013, 10:44 PM
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I have a Pentax K100D with the kit lens that's 52mm diameter and I use a couple manual lenses with a 49mm diameter. I also have a different camera that could take either a 58mm or 67 mm filter. Is there some sort of adapter that would allow me to use the same size filter on all my lenses? I hate to buy 3 different filters for the 3 different diameter lenses.
thanks
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-08-2013, 09:45 PM
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I don't understand when you say they work with all the camera settings (Av, T). My understanding was the M lens only worked with the camera on manual setting since the aperture can only be set by the aperture ring on the lens and not set by your camera. On my camera, I then have to push the AE-L button prior to taking the picture so that the shutter speed adjusts accordingly. The A lens can take advantage of using your camera setting to set the aperture. So I'd keep the A. Although I don't think you'll get much for the M F2. There's a zillion of them out there.
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