Re: Photographing Ice Hockey: K-x vs. K20D
On 5/23/2010 1:38 PM, Robert Jordan wrote: My questions are: should I consider selling my K20D and buying a K-x? Can I shoot at 6400 with a K-x and get quality shots? What would I lose by replacing the K20D with the K-x? Together, the K-x and the K20 are almost everything I need in a camera. The K20 has excellent ergonomics, and the K-x pretty good ergonomics. The K20 is better at low ISO the K-x is much better at high iso. The K-x is better at metering and autofocus. The K20 is a bit more comfortable in my hand, the K-x is smaller, lighter and easier to carry. I read a lot of discussion about a new, high end Pentax SLR being announced in September. What is the likelihood of that happening? Probably pretty good. Though for what it would cost you to sell your K20 and pick up the new top of the line Pentax next fall, you could probably keep your K20 and pick up a K-x today. Thanks for your comments, Robert -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Photographing Ice Hockey: K-x vs. K20D
On 2010-05-24 13:27, Larry Colen wrote: Probably pretty good. Though for what it would cost you to sell your K20 and pick up the new top of the line Pentax next fall, you could probably keep your K20 and pick up a K-x today. No kidding. I'm thinking more in terms of getting a K7 when the new camera comes out and using my K10D as it's backup (I never got a K20D). I'll most likely get the K7 replacement, or its replacement, eventually. -- Thanks, DougF (KG4LMZ) -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Photographing Ice Hockey: K-x vs. K20D
On Sun, May 23, 2010 at 4:38 PM, Robert Jordan forbe...@yahoo.com wrote: I have been reading the recent K-7 thread with great interest. I have a K20D. From September 2009-March 2010 I took at least 10,000 exposures at my son's hockey games, shooting from either a penalty box or behind the bench, using a DA 50-135 2.8, shooting with an aperature priority setting of 2.8 and ASA of either 800-1600 or 1600 only. I shoot RAW. As a friend put it, the quality of my shots was roughly inversely proportional to the speed of the action. The action shots were a little soft, or a little blurred as my shutter speeds were not quite fast enough. The light in these recreation rinks usually leaves a lot to be desired. I think I need to be shooting at ASA 3200 or 6400. To add one more variable to the mix, I've purchased a Sigma 70-200 2.8 with next season in mind which probably means I need to add to be at least one f-stop faster just to stay where I am now. I have a monopod and am planning to use it although I find it awkward. Lastly, although I have become addicted to hockey photography I use the K20D for all family photography including soccer games as well. My questions are: should I consider selling my K20D and buying a K-x? Can I shoot at 6400 with a K-x and get quality shots? What would I lose by replacing the K20D with the K-x? I read a lot of discussion about a new, high end Pentax SLR being announced in September. What is the likelihood of that happening? Thanks for your comments, Robert The K-x delivers excellent results at ISO 6400, I don't even use NR anymore unless I need to go to 12,800. In general, the K-x is an upgrade over the K20D, but you do lose a few things. The buffer is smaller (5 RAW, 17 JPEG at 4.7fps, double that at 2fps), it's not weather-sealed, has only 1 control wheel and a smaller and slightly dimmer viewfinder, you pretty much have to stick to either a fixed centre AF point or auto-selection, and you're back to using AA batteries. You gain greatly increased high ISO performance, improved AF, a speed boost to almost 5fps, some significant size/weight savings and a more responsive camera (The K20D feels slow compared to the K-x or K-7 for UI and control response). That said, I'd wait right now and see if Pentax releases a updated K-7 for Photokina, as the K-7 is going to be a better choice than the K-x for Hockey work aside from the high ISO performance and any update will likely be simply an improved sensor in the same basic body. -Adam -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Photographing Ice Hockey: K-x vs. K20D
If you search back in the archives a few months ago, I was readying myself to shoot an annual gymnastic meet for my third year. Only this year they were requiring me to shoot without flash. My current camera was a K20D. I went to many of my daughter's basketball games that were lit in a similar manner (bad) to see if I felt the K20D could do the job. No, it couldn't - a few shots here and there if you really worked with them after, but practically speaking, it was a no go. So I started to investigate the K-x. After info from current users on the list, I decided to buy one and see how it would do. What I can tell you is that I successfully shot the meet using the K-x and a DA* 16-50 lens. I ended up shooting about 9,5000 frames in the single day even - almost all of it at ISO 6400 and jpg. Mostly used the Sport Program setting - this coming from a guy who mostly shoots manual focus, manual exposure and RAW. The K-x is a very usable camera for a great price. The AF is a little better than the K20D and the ISO 6400 is way better - actually usable without having to work hard at it. You are more than welcome to peruse the shots to get a feel for it. Jump more towards the middle shots to see more action type things. http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=6389590 No need to login - just hit continue... I have since used it for quite a few things and find it to be a much better camera than we may want to admit - especially because of it's price. In fact, I usually pick it over the K20D for many things even if they are not high ISO situations. Long term I am hoping for a K7 type body with the sensor capabilities of the K-x. -- Best regards, Bruce Sunday, May 23, 2010, 1:38:55 PM, you wrote: RJ I have been reading the recent K-7 thread with great interest. RJ I have a K20D. From September 2009-March 2010 I took at least RJ 10,000 exposures at my son's hockey games, shooting from either a RJ penalty box or behind the bench, using a DA 50-135 2.8, shooting RJ with an aperature priority setting of 2.8 and ASA of either RJ 800-1600 or 1600 only. I shoot RAW. RJ As a friend put it, the quality of my shots was roughly inversely RJ proportional to the speed of the action. The action shots were a RJ little soft, or a little blurred as my shutter speeds were not RJ quite fast enough. The light in these recreation rinks usually RJ leaves a lot to be desired. I think I need to be shooting at ASA 3200 or 6400. RJ To add one more variable to the mix, I've purchased a Sigma RJ 70-200 2.8 with next season in mind which probably means I need to RJ add to be at least one f-stop faster just to stay where I am now. RJ I have a monopod and am planning to use it although I find it RJ awkward. Lastly, although I have become addicted to hockey RJ photography I use the K20D for all family photography including soccer games as well. RJ My questions are: should I consider selling my K20D and buying a RJ K-x? Can I shoot at 6400 with a K-x and get quality shots? What RJ would I lose by replacing the K20D with the K-x? RJ I read a lot of discussion about a new, high end Pentax SLR being RJ announced in September. What is the likelihood of that happening? RJ Thanks for your comments, RJ Robert RJ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
