Dr Orloff cites the limitation of suitable lenses in the Pentax line up for top sport. He's put his finger on the problem. Long and fast lenses are essential for covering professional sport, Premiership and International football for instance. That's why the Press 'togs are almost exclusively using using Nikon or Canon
Fast auto modern 300mm lenses with a minimum aperture of f2.8, 400 lenses with f4, don't seem to figure in the Pentax collection.
Fast long lenses are pretty desirable for wildlife photographers too, especially for birds and other wildlife darting around in their natural habitat. Easier for a bird photographer inside a hide with his tripod mounted camera.
The only fast moving sport I've covered in any depth is cycle racing but this is one sport where the spectator can generally get almost alongside the competitors. Check this out when you watch the Tour de France on TV.
The only limiting factor here is not the camera or the lens but the reaction speed of the photographer. My DA*50-135 handles road racing easily coupled to the Mark 1 K5.
Track sports are much easier to cover than, say, most ball games where the players are darting around in directions not easily predicted.
With track events, athletics, cycling, swimming (OK they are in lanes) even motoring racing, its easier to predict where the subject will head next.
As for fast auto focussing; my DA*50-135 and my DA*200mm lenses mounted on the K5 or K30 have never yet let me down when I've been photographing a steam locomotive out on the mainline bearing down on me at 60-70mph.
The reviews all seem to suggest the auto focussing and frames per second shooting rate on the new K3 will be up there with the best for sport.
All Pentax needs now are the lenses to go with it.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Things are looking up

The Daily Telegraph today has a quarter page ad for Jessops, exclusively advertising 'Great deals on Pentax Cameras.' Long time since I saw ads for Pentax cameras in national newspapers. Or for Jessops for that matter.
Featured are the K500 with twin lens kit for £429.99; K3 with 18-55mm WR kit for £1,114.99; K50 with 1-55mm lens WR kit for £539.00.
Are Ricoh and Jessops now getting to grips with marketing Pentax the way it should be?
The latest edition of the Royal Photographic Society Journal this week carries news of the new K3 but gives more prominence to the new Nikon D610 full frame camera. Room for improvement there then.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I went from a K10 (very similar to the K20) to a K5 and agree with all the above benefits. Plus one I would add - For 'straight' shots I found I was having to do far less PP work on K5 images than on the K10.
David.

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I don't think I'll be there this time although a final decision has not yet been made.
If I do go it'll be with some members from DPS (Canon and Nikon users included) and we'll be in the usual caff just after 8am for bacon sarnies. Then I'll be at the bottom of the steps at 10.30ish.
David

Its a first class environmental portrait. Very well done
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Excellent photos from an excellent event Gary. I was mildly surprised to discover from your photo-link that the Oktoberfest is apparently held exclusively for voluptuous young women.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Very dramatic Alan, well caught.
David.

I'll just stick with my blue K30 and my first and only wife.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Quality landscape and the HC is very well deserved.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Hope your lens was at the long end, these guys can be dangerous during rutting if you get too close. Nice photo.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout