All Forum Comments
Comment by dcweather posted on The misunderstanding about AF in sports and birds in flight at 13/11/2013 - 20:54
Fletcher8 wrote:
Personally I think the debate about AF and which brands are better suited for specific types of photography miss one key point, the camera is only as good as it's operator. As other people have stated, investing time and effort learning and practicing will pay dividends in terms of ones photography skills.. However, certain cameras do have an edge, but at the end of the day skill is something you currently can't buy and it's not built into any brand or AF system no matter what we are told there will always be a better AF system for sports photography available in the next model.
---------------------------------------------Personally I think the debate about AF and which brands are better suited for specific types of photography miss one key point, the camera is only as good as it's operator. As other people have stated, investing time and effort learning and practicing will pay dividends in terms of ones photography skills.. However, certain cameras do have an edge, but at the end of the day skill is something you currently can't buy and it's not built into any brand or AF system no matter what we are told there will always be a better AF system for sports photography available in the next model.
But surely the point is, given equal skill, the one that is superior will give the more keepers? Like I said, I'm not complaining it's just observation of facts.
Comment by dcweather posted on The misunderstanding about AF in sports and birds in flight at 13/11/2013 - 20:51
Me too Steve. Again though it is predictable. It can be done! No fish, but I'll settle for the dragonflies.Not quite nailed by I'm working on it!
Humble K30
The scene I described is not everyday but when that Marsh Harrier appears up from the reeds I will guarantee the Pentaxian will be the last to get on it. Like I said I don't mind because other factors override it , but it's true!
Dave
Humble K30
The scene I described is not everyday but when that Marsh Harrier appears up from the reeds I will guarantee the Pentaxian will be the last to get on it. Like I said I don't mind because other factors override it , but it's true!
Dave
Comment by dcweather posted on The misunderstanding about AF in sports and birds in flight at 13/11/2013 - 20:47
Having read pages and pages all over the place I have finally identified in my mind why there are differing views about AF performance.
Sports and aviation shots can be fast moving but their likely starting points are (usually) very predictable. If I am taking a shot of a plane at an air show it doesn't usually appear from thin air from a different direction at a different distance. It is relatively distant so may cross the frame more slowly. A forward in a football match is there all the time and his movement and distance can be approximated and followed for longer. They are also extremely large.
Sitting in a hide looking at a ground bird and then from left or right, variable height and from 10 to say 50 metres, small and in view for less than 10 secs is very challenging for all cameras.
So please don't counter argue the birder's problems by saying AF is fine for sports or aviation. From experience seeing the success rates of other marques we know for this specific situation Pentax is poor and will become better but not as good for some time.
But no matter, because this is but a small part of a wildlife photographer's interest and in almost all other respects the K30 upwards can more than compete with the opposition.
Dave
Sports and aviation shots can be fast moving but their likely starting points are (usually) very predictable. If I am taking a shot of a plane at an air show it doesn't usually appear from thin air from a different direction at a different distance. It is relatively distant so may cross the frame more slowly. A forward in a football match is there all the time and his movement and distance can be approximated and followed for longer. They are also extremely large.
Sitting in a hide looking at a ground bird and then from left or right, variable height and from 10 to say 50 metres, small and in view for less than 10 secs is very challenging for all cameras.
So please don't counter argue the birder's problems by saying AF is fine for sports or aviation. From experience seeing the success rates of other marques we know for this specific situation Pentax is poor and will become better but not as good for some time.
But no matter, because this is but a small part of a wildlife photographer's interest and in almost all other respects the K30 upwards can more than compete with the opposition.
Dave
Comment by dcweather posted on The misunderstanding about AF in sports and birds in flight at 13/11/2013 - 18:42
I think if it is mainly landscape I would go for the most you can afford in order - K30, K50, K5, K5ii, K5iis. My K30 had big benefits over the Kr (mainly, better AF, more resolution, weatherproofing, better viewfinder, better live view,focus peeking and proper remote socket). This of course would represent your minimum net outlay and the others would give you most of this and more.
Comment by dcweather posted on Upgrading from a K-r at 13/11/2013 - 18:22
Mike-P wrote:
-------------------------------------------------mxds wrote:
I have been offered a used da*300 f4 at a reasonable price, as I already have the Tamron 300 2.8 which I use with my 1.7 adapter I would like your thoughts as I know that a few of you out there have both or have experience of them. I don’t think I could justify keeping both to the wife !!!
Easy choice ... get rid of the wife.I have been offered a used da*300 f4 at a reasonable price, as I already have the Tamron 300 2.8 which I use with my 1.7 adapter I would like your thoughts as I know that a few of you out there have both or have experience of them. I don’t think I could justify keeping both to the wife !!!
No contest.
Comment by dcweather posted on Tamron SP300 f2.8 or DA*300 f4 at 13/11/2013 - 18:11
JAK wrote:
It is very unlikely that colour effect on the birds is anything to do with moire but their natural iridescence. The colours in the feathers of a bird are formed in two different ways, from either pigments or from light refraction caused by the structure of the feather or sometimes a combination of both. Iridescent colouration is commonly caused by a prismatic feather structure that scatters and refracts light to give the feathers their changing colours (same effect as a rainbow.) Odd that people are keen to blame something that occurs naturally in nature on the lack of a camera AA filter.
John K
----------------------------------------It is very unlikely that colour effect on the birds is anything to do with moire but their natural iridescence. The colours in the feathers of a bird are formed in two different ways, from either pigments or from light refraction caused by the structure of the feather or sometimes a combination of both. Iridescent colouration is commonly caused by a prismatic feather structure that scatters and refracts light to give the feathers their changing colours (same effect as a rainbow.) Odd that people are keen to blame something that occurs naturally in nature on the lack of a camera AA filter.
John K
Pretty much what I think, regarding the feathers .
Comment by dcweather posted on K3 resolution at 13/11/2013 - 00:30
johnriley wrote:
-------------------------------------------------Quote:
even if the IQ has gone down a bit compared to the K5s
That is absolutely not the case.even if the IQ has gone down a bit compared to the K5s
Agree with John from what I've seen . (Is this type of comment the DPreview pics kicking in?)
Comment by dcweather posted on K-3 20 page review out at 12/11/2013 - 22:37
The penguin head could be sharper at 100% I agree but as for all this moire stuff - I can't see it in any of the images here. I can on the link but there the sharpness of all he pictures look identical at that size to me so basically I'm not bothered and I am a bird photographer.
Comment by dcweather posted on K3 resolution at 12/11/2013 - 18:42
geordie01 wrote:
I think I will wait and see what the folks on this forum who have bought one come up with, rather than rely on the DPR images. Cos I reckon that the likes of David and Alan will be posting far more superior images than that.
-----------------------------------------------I think I will wait and see what the folks on this forum who have bought one come up with, rather than rely on the DPR images. Cos I reckon that the likes of David and Alan will be posting far more superior images than that.
Well exactly my point! They already have. I don't take a blind bit of notice of those pics, but if anyone looks at the two I mentioned for a start they should have been deleted off the card and rejected. If I was paid to review a camera I would put some effort into it - even if they were just snapshots! if you read the comments a lot of people are rubbishing the K3 based on these and Dpreview is one of the most influential sites. None are up to the standard of our own K3 shooters on here!
Comment by dcweather posted on DPR K3 sample pics a joke! at 12/11/2013 - 13:52
I've only managed 2 keepers this year
Lovely background as well as a fantastic shot of the bird. Unfortunately where I live it is difficult to get a river with a private enough spot and the one where I have found myself and put a perch out can vary a bit with time of year and clarity of the water. Fun trying though.
Dave