K3 Focusing
Posted 02/09/2016 - 21:10 - Helpful Comment
Link
I've had a K-5 previously and still own a K-5iis and a K-3, with a variety of lenses both screw drive and in lens motors. Here are my thoughts:
In order of focus speed and accuracy, K-3 is best, then K-5iis, then K-5
K-3 is only faster with screw drive lenses, with in lens motors the speed is governed by the lens
K-3 locks onto small focus targets (e.g. birds) better than the K-5 variants
K-5iis is miles better at AF than the original K-5, but not quite as good as the K-3
K-3 and K-5iis will focus in near darkness whilst the original K-5 is poor in this regard
I can't comment on focus tracking as I don't use it
Both K-3 and K-5iis are accurate focusers, I think the K-3 is marginally the better
If you're after excellent focus tracking I suspect you may be disappointed with any of these cameras, based on comments from the birders on here, but if you after general AF performance and accuracy, either the K-3 or a K-5ii variant are very good.
Regards
David
In order of focus speed and accuracy, K-3 is best, then K-5iis, then K-5
K-3 is only faster with screw drive lenses, with in lens motors the speed is governed by the lens
K-3 locks onto small focus targets (e.g. birds) better than the K-5 variants
K-5iis is miles better at AF than the original K-5, but not quite as good as the K-3
K-3 and K-5iis will focus in near darkness whilst the original K-5 is poor in this regard
I can't comment on focus tracking as I don't use it
Both K-3 and K-5iis are accurate focusers, I think the K-3 is marginally the better
If you're after excellent focus tracking I suspect you may be disappointed with any of these cameras, based on comments from the birders on here, but if you after general AF performance and accuracy, either the K-3 or a K-5ii variant are very good.
Regards
David
Posted 02/09/2016 - 21:37
Link
Thanks for that David, any improvement in speed and accuracy is welcome.
My specialist subject is trains and I have been pre-focussing at a point on the track and waiting up the loco gets there which works well. However, if there is particularly good exhaust I may want to re frame and focus at the last moment. At least with trains and for that matter cars, motor bikes etc, at least you know which direction they are coming in. Birds and animals are not known for posing for the camera!
My specialist subject is trains and I have been pre-focussing at a point on the track and waiting up the loco gets there which works well. However, if there is particularly good exhaust I may want to re frame and focus at the last moment. At least with trains and for that matter cars, motor bikes etc, at least you know which direction they are coming in. Birds and animals are not known for posing for the camera!
Flickr
DA AL 35mm f2.4, K3,18-135 WR, DA 55-300, Pentax KX, K5 x 2, 18-50 50-200 kit lenses, Tamron 17-50 f2.8, Fuji X10, 2x Mamiya 1000s 2x 80mm f2.8, 150mm f3.5, 210mm f4, Yashica 124G TLR, 2x Yashica FX3 Super 2000, Tamron 28mm f2.8, 90mm SP f2.5, 135mm f2.5, Olympus 35RC, 2x Yashica FX2, Kodak Pocket Instamatic, Kodak Box Brownie
DA AL 35mm f2.4, K3,18-135 WR, DA 55-300, Pentax KX, K5 x 2, 18-50 50-200 kit lenses, Tamron 17-50 f2.8, Fuji X10, 2x Mamiya 1000s 2x 80mm f2.8, 150mm f3.5, 210mm f4, Yashica 124G TLR, 2x Yashica FX3 Super 2000, Tamron 28mm f2.8, 90mm SP f2.5, 135mm f2.5, Olympus 35RC, 2x Yashica FX2, Kodak Pocket Instamatic, Kodak Box Brownie
Posted 03/09/2016 - 09:14
Link
I purchased my K3 nearly 2 years ago and use it a lot for aircraft, trains, and motorsport - never had any real issues with getting fast focus as the subjects are usually quite big, but I can see how it might struggle with birds and smaller faster moving subjects.
My daughter has a K5 and that can have the occasional problem on very fast motorsport subjects, but it's not that far on focus lock behind the K3
one thing that I have learnt to make things better is to use back button focus and AF-C, this way gives much better tracking focus.
have a look on my Flickr site for various images taken with the k3 over the last 18 months or so..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/128865843@N07/
My daughter has a K5 and that can have the occasional problem on very fast motorsport subjects, but it's not that far on focus lock behind the K3
one thing that I have learnt to make things better is to use back button focus and AF-C, this way gives much better tracking focus.
have a look on my Flickr site for various images taken with the k3 over the last 18 months or so..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/128865843@N07/
Add Comment
To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.
159 posts
15 years
Ramsbottom,
Bury,
Lancashire
I have also read that this is dependent to some degree on which lenses are used. Most of mine are the screw type.
Just how much better is focusing in general and focus tracking in particular with the K3 as compared with the K5?
DA AL 35mm f2.4, K3,18-135 WR, DA 55-300, Pentax KX, K5 x 2, 18-50 50-200 kit lenses, Tamron 17-50 f2.8, Fuji X10, 2x Mamiya 1000s 2x 80mm f2.8, 150mm f3.5, 210mm f4, Yashica 124G TLR, 2x Yashica FX3 Super 2000, Tamron 28mm f2.8, 90mm SP f2.5, 135mm f2.5, Olympus 35RC, 2x Yashica FX2, Kodak Pocket Instamatic, Kodak Box Brownie