Peter,

The floodlights aren't to bad considering they have tungsten bulbs in them, but there are some dark areas around the oval where the light isn't so good.

I forgot to mention that the 2 examples in my post were taken from the outside of the track over the top of the safety fencing. Apart from a slight crop they were straight off the camera.

Regards,

Chris.

Steve,

I think that the AF is faster and more accurate on the K5II, I seemed to have a lot more 'keepers' than I did with my K5 at the same track with the same lens and camera settings. Plus, I don't know if it's just me but I think my K5II high ISO photos look better than the the K5 high ISO ones.

One think I have noticed though when using the K5II under floodlights is that I have to turn the SR off to get sharp photos. On the K5 I have to have it turned on. I haven't had chance to try the K5II at a daylight meeting yet though but when I do I'll take some with SR on, then take some with SR off and then compare them.

Regards,

Chris.

I also use TAv mode for daylight race meetings, but for night time meetings under floodlights I always use Tv mode.

I don't use flash at all because I'm to far away from the track for it to be of any use.

Here are a couple of shots I took under tungsten floodlights using Tv mode.

K5II + 300mm DA*

Hand held with SR turned off.

F4 - 1/160 - ISO 12800




F4 - 1/125 - ISO 6400

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

My K5 II is the only camera I have to turn the SR off to get sharp photos.

On my GX10, K20D and K5 the SR is always on and the photos are pin sharp, especially when using my 300mm DA*.

The only time it gets switched off is when I'm using a sigma lens with built in OS.

It's now the end of the BriSCA Stock Car season so when it restarts next year I'll do some SR tests between my K5 and K5 II with the 300mm DA*

Below is a photo I took with my K5 with SR turned on, and it's still sharp.

Regards,

Chris.

F8 - 1/125 - ISO 640

Try a manual windows update, go to the windows update site,

Tools > Windows Update

If you've never done a manual update before you might have to install a small programme but it takes you through it and only takes seconds.

Then instead of clicking the Recommended button, click the Custom button and see what updates it comes up with.

Microsoft only installs the most important updates automatically and not the 'nice to have' ones.

I always do a custom scan when I get my old XP Home laptop out of its bag and it often finds new drivers etc.

Regards,

Chris.

Hi all,

After my slightly disappointing first time out with my new K5 II last weekend ( see link below for my comments)

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/k5-ii---first-shots---birmingham-wheels-3...

I went back to Birmingham Wheels Raceway last night ( 17th Nov ) and decided to shoot the whole meeting with 'SR' turned off and what a difference it made, the OOF shots were minimal this time round.

When I use my normal K5 at the same track under the same conditions I always have the 'SR' turned on and I get some cracking shots.

Why should there be a difference between the K5 and K5 II in the use of 'SR'?

3 examples from last night ( SR turned off ), under tungsten floodlights.

Apart from a crop, straight off the camera.

K5 II + 300mm DA*

1st and 2nd photos - F4, 1/100, ISO6400
3rd photo - F4, 1/125, ISO6400

Slighty off topic ~ I bought the latest edition of an oval racing mag last night and I've got 2 photos published in it, both taken at ISO6400 with my normal K5.

Hi all,

I decided to go to Birmingham Wheels on Saturday night (10th Nov) to try out my new K5 II under the horrible tungsten floodlights.

The only settings I altered were - changed AF to 5 point and changed the sharpness to +2 ( these are the settings I use on my 'normal' K5.

I set the WB to tungsten.

The only 2 things I noticed were,

1 - I seemed to get a lot more OOF shots than I do with my 'normal' K5 using the same lens at the same track ( but it might just be me as it was a freezing cold night )

2 - The SR 'hand' seems a lot slower to appear in the viewfinder than it does on my other K5.

Apart from a slight crop these are straight off the camera.

All shots over the top of the safety fencing.

K5 II + 300mm DA*

F4 - 1/125 - ISO 6400




F4 - 1/160 - ISO 12800




F4 - 1/125 - ISO 12800




F4 - 1/100 - ISO 6400




F4 - 1/100 - ISO 6400




F4 - 1/100 - ISO 6400




F4 - 1/100 - ISO 6400




F4 - 1/125 - ISO 6400




F4 - 1/125 - ISO 6400

The wife did say "how many more?"

The thing is I do still use them all.

Regards,

Chris.

I did a 240 mile round trip today (8th) to visit SRS to pick up my K5II.

Hopefully going to Buxton Raceway on Sunday to give it a go.

Regards,

Chris.

My Sigma 120-400 works fine on my GX10.

Regards,

Chris.