pentax 50-135 f2.8

Hi there,would this lens be suitable for motorsport ...ie ,motocross ,rallying .How quick is the Af on this lens .Ta for looking .

AF is not super quick but I don't think AF is needed for motorsport.
It really depends on the track if the lens is good, I think you're better of with the DA*60-250, it's wide enough and you've more tele, 135mm is quite short also f/4 is good enough unless you are planning on some motorsports at night but that's a whole other class of photography.

I've some motorsport photos with the DA*50-135, it can surely be done, no doubt about that.
They are both post processed and cropped though, they are both at the long end if I'm not mistaken. first one around f/5.6 and the last one wider since that was at sunset.

The AF is a bit slow TBH but the quality of the images can be stunning. If you are used to prefocusing and panning you could get some lovely shots with it. 135mm isn't very long however, even with the crop, so it depends how close you'll be to the action. Alternatives would be the 60-250 zoom or the 300mm.

Best wishes, Kris.

AF is slow but IQ is superb.

Take a look at the Sigma and Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 lenses.

The auto focus isnt stellar,but I shoot a lot of sports and flying birds and Iam happy with the results.

Is there any particular reason why Pentax's lenses are slow on the af front .

As regarding not needing af for motorsport ,afraid i disagree ,Maybe with rallying it could work ,motocross is a different story these guys are a bit unpredictable for manual focusing .

I had the Sigma 70-200 when i used canon great performer really quick af and accurate with it ,i just thought i'd enquire about the Pentax 50-135 for it's weather proofing,anyways thank for your input

I did a practice session in Spain with my K10D and Sigma 70-200mm f2.8. It coped very well. We have a rally in the forest this month and I will take the same lens over the 50-135mm.

I have recently used the 50-135 with the Pentax AF1.7 TC, it is very fast focus due to the screw dive. Downside is the extra cost ofthe AF 1.7 TC!

I agree with Mike-P with regards to the Sigma 70-200, I very rarely leave it at home. It is a true work horse and AF is good and fast.

Regards

Hasn't the fact the 50-135mm is focusing fast with the 1,7x got something to do with the fact you have to manually focus in the range of the teleconverter first though?

Very slightly Mike. You always know where you will generally shoot and it only needs to be "near" as far as the manual focus. I know it does not work from minimum to infinity but I generally leave the focus on the lens close to infinity and the AF does the rest.

Obviously if subjects are closer then it only needs a slight tweak but nothing that needs thinking about.

I have golf comp coming up soon and will use that combo then and presently have no worries about speed or performance.

Regards

I may put my K10D back to a previous non SDM firmware and see if using screwdrive on the DA* lenses is actually any faster.

Great photos Mike-P

Mike, how come that pic of yours is not in the Pentax Gallery? How strange, I would have thought that this image is among some of your best ones

Amin

are you still selling that pentax 50-135mm I think the f/length is right

nice to see you are back on this forum where have you been

James