The DA* 300mm will produce awesome images but as its a prime, it'll be limiting, if you intend to do much motorsport photography a good zoom lens will serve you better in my opinion. Have a look at simonarron's posts on here, he uses a Sigma 100-300mm lens nowadays.

I had the DA* 300mm lens and the 1.7x T/C and sold them both because zooms, good ones, are much more flexible. Maybe consider a DA* 60-250mm instead, same max aperture of f4, superb image quality too. Alternatively the Sigma 100-300m 1:4 is also a superb motorsport lens.

Looking at your list of lenses, you are going to need to be fairly close to the action if the DA* 50-135mm lens is the longest focal length you have.

I typically use a Pentax DA* 60-250mm, Sigma 70-200m, or a Sigma 150-500mm.

Careful, we may get tough later now that you have past the 'gentle' phase

I tend to use TAv exposure mode for motorsport, setting the shutter speed to at least 1/125th and the aperture around f4 or f8 to get some shots 'in the bag'. Then I play with larger/smaller apertures and slower/faster shutter speeds but still in TAv mode.

Try and get some shots of bikes on corners/hairpins, entering and leaving, where the bike is leaning over.


These are from a BSB pro-test day at my local track in Spain.

This is a shot of Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell of the Milwaukee Yamaha team testing at Cartagena this year.





K52_6201.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr

If I was brave enough, which I'm not, I'd try loading the K-01 firmware on a K-5. The K-01 supports focus peaking.

Anybody up for the challenge (Matt)

Whilst I baulk at the cost of a Pentax OEM D-LI106 battery the only batteries I've had any problems with have been third party offerings, never a Pentax branded one.

I think I might just stick with the one supplied with my MX-1 (when it arrives) for now and see how it performs.

I don't think that he OP's cameras support focus peaking.

Superb shots as usual Simon. I used to take my boys to Brands Hatch Historic events when they were young. Loved it.

When you consider that most macro photographers seem to prefer manual focus, why do you think you need auto focus extension tubes? Please don't tell me that it's only because your Canon/Nikon buddies have them.

I do a fair amount of macro work. I never use auto focus because when I tried to use it years ago, the camera got it wrong more often than not. When I've tried it more recently with a modern camera, it still gets it wrong.

For macro, use manual focus and put the money I've saved you towards a dedicated macro lens. Much more useful.

You seem to have a good eye for a shot Sarah. #2 is by far and away my favourite despite the overexposed appearance of the dove/pigeon. It's well framed and well exposed (apart from the bird).

Very well done. Gentle enough?