K-5II + Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm 1:2.8 Racing at night images

I gave the above combination it's first outing last night (10/2/2013) and I have to say I was well impressed at the focusing abilities of the K-5II. It is the low light focusing abilities I am trying to portray here.

Click on this link to see the full set of nearly 200 images. The first few of static cars were taken with a K-5 and DA* 16-60mm, the images on track are with the K-5II and Siggy lens + AF540FGZ flash, all PP'd in Lightroom with grad fill to dull the foreground flash effects.

Using the K-5II gave me many more keepers than I ever got with the K-5 which was hopeless when coupled with the DA* 60-250mm 1:4 lens. Next meeting is in 2 weeks when I will try the 60-250mm again.

You'll notice that some of the images have a bloom to them, or flare, caused by some of the flood lighting hitting the front element. I've reduced it as best I can but I'm hoping this will not occur with the 60-250mm. We'll see.

I was able to move around the track on this occasion as we had plenty of marshals on hand. Normally I have to carry out my flag waving duties as well. As a consequence I've been able to capture a reasonable mix of different perspectives.

A selection of the better images, enjoy:-



K52_0129.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr



K52_0170.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr



K52_0226.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr



K52_0268.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr



K52_0237.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr



K52_0166.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr

The cars in the first and last images look like they have been badly photoshopped onto a background image. Totally disconnected. Especially the first image.

Too much local adjustment brush?

I've rcvd a similar comment on another forum Mr. Smeg. I've only used Lightroom for these, definitely no PS trickery here.

I think the 'artificial' appearance stems from the fact that I had the flash mounted on the hot shoe and consequently there are very few shadows.

I wasn't particularly focusing (no pun intended) on image excellence during this exercise, just the focus accuracy of the combination, which BTW I am pleased with.

Hand holding a flash well away from the lens to create shadows is a non-starter but I do have a Hot Shoe Grip (modified for use with AF540FGZ + Hot Shoe Adapter F + Synch Cord F 5P) to create a psuedo hammerhead flash, maybe I'll try that at the next meeting along with the DA* 60-250mm lens.

Unfortunately I have no option except to use flash during the winter months because the track lighting is abysmal.

It's probably obvious from the images but I should add that these are taken with bare flash. I've tried some diffusers but they attenuate the light too much.

Oh I know you've haven't cut and pasted anything, it just looks like they have

It's not so much a lack of shadow issue or indeed the product of the flash that I can see, there's a distinct difference in contrast and saturation between the car(s) and the background.

It looks like the effect you can get by separating the subject and background too much in lightroom by applying too much enhancement n just the subject. Something I've done myself in LR.

Well I have increased contrast somewhat, and in some I've added a -exposure grad effect to reduce the foreground flash and a +exposure grad to bring up the background just a tad.

I'll have another play but I'm sure you appreciate that with around 200 images, I haven't spent very long PP'ing any of them.

If anybody wants to buy, then I'll spend more time on those that sell, if any.