Old question, new slant. Help needed please.
1. I think you are correct it is the camera, although it has improved with the K3.
2. To some degree the lens can effect focus speed eg SDM v Screw drive. Larger aperture etc.
3. relates to 2.
The thing you have not mentioned is Focus Tracking which I think is where other brand score highly compared to Pentax when you are trying for birds in flight.
https://pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/barrieforbes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/189482630@N03/
I guess 18 out of 20 OK. My old 55 300 would have hunted around so yes the lens matters. Cropped heavily as quite high overhead.
link
wvbarnes, I see that you have used a prime 300mm lens on your K5.
stu62, I can only see the one bird shot but I'm impressed.
Blythman, Whatever birds are around when I am out and about. I have some half decent ones of a seagull, swans etc.
I'm thinking that even with a K50, providing I set the shutter speed to above 1000th or so and use continual shooting, I should get some decent shots. Right or wrong.
It has been the posts about Pentax cameras not being too good at fast moving subjects that has stopped me from reverting to Pentax last winter. Even one or two 'official type' reviews have mentioned it.
I only use centre point AF for telephoto and centre weighted metering when I remember.
I find turning off shake reduction helps if you know you are to be panning.
I find 1/1000th or faster best if enough light. Next week out in the Eastern Med I'll get away with very high shutter speeds, so much light even in October.
I program one of the custom settings ready for action use, (five on K5's three on the dial on K3) for action shots including back button autofoucs (covered on this forum.
I've seen nothing to indicate equipment is inferior. One day I'll hopefully be as good as Blythman (Alan)
I noticed a difference when I had the K3, and possibly when I used the K50 as well.
would you say that using back button autofocus produces better results compared to using the shutter button?
I noticed a difference when I had the K3, and possibly when I used the K50 as well.
stu62
stu62[/quote
Bottom right of nine shots. I think it is the vulture stu62.
I'm going to spend the weekend searching for 'moving targets' taken using the Pentax K50 and the K5 as it will probably be one of these that I will revert to. It depends on how much I am offered in part exchange. I need to get the best deal available to me. Thanks for all the help and feel free to pile more upon me.
I'm not giving up and there is a slight possibility that my DA* 300 doesn't have as snappy focusing as it should, although the Kingfisher pic in my gallery shows it is capable at times.
Dave
As to smaller birds I haven't had much success with flight shots.
Here are some various big birds. With the exception of puffins, fulmar and razorbill, these are fairly slow moving.
Puffins with the K3 and DA300
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/puffins-in-flight-50157
Barn owl K3, DA 300 and 1.4xTC
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/last-night-s-barn-owl-50134
Spoonbills K3 and DA560
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/spoonbills-49884
Barn Owls K5, DA 300 and 1.4xTC
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/barn-owls-iso-4000-49860
Barn Owls K3 and DA560
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/barn-owl-49827
Various at Bempton K5 and I think the DA300
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/a-selection-from-bempton-cliffs-41670
Shorties, K5 ans Sigma 150-500
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/iso-8-000-39685 https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/short-eared-owls--saturday-3rd-march-nort...
stu
Pentax's achilles heel right now though is SDM, it's far too slow when compared to Canon's USM and Sigmas HSM lens motors, the old screw drive is actually faster (my Sigma 100-300mm F4 is the fastest focusing lens in Pentax mount and that's screw drive) but hopefully they will start to use the DC system more, which I find much faster.
Saying all that it can be done and when it is the results can be superb but I have to say that personally, if I go out to take pictures of anything moving fast then 9/10 times I will take my Canon gear as the keeper rate is much improved. (but for everything else I take Pentax).
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227 posts
12 years
Merseyside
I would like someone with the knowledge to tell me if my current thoughts are correct or otherwise.
1. It is the Pentax camera that is slow and therefore can't be improved upon. OR
2. It is only the lens that has a slow auto focus and can be improved upon. eg. The Pentax 50-200 kit lens, I think, is generally regarded as not the best to have. So, this may not be fast enough to capture birds in flight.
3. For want of an example, by using a Tamron 18-270 or similar, Sigma etc lens, will have a fast enough auto focus so therefore will be able to capture birds in flight.
I am still using a Canon 700D but still want to return to a Pentax. One reason but not the only one is that Pentax have two control buttons/wheels for shutter speed and aperture stops. This would be a huge help to me as I have great difficulty using the Canon system which does nothing to assist my arthritic fingers. Many thanks to those of you who may be able to help me.