-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
em-1 vs Pentax
- Thread starter kitsios_spyros
- Start date
kitsios_spyros
Veteran Member
kitsios_spyros
Veteran Member
DDoram
Veteran Member
Sadly, the EM-1 will likely outsell the K3 and any other Pentax camera. It looks like a fine camera, but since I have lots of great Pentax glass, the K3 is more appealing to me.
Dale
Dale
audiobomber
Veteran Member
The only actual focus testing I've seen was by FNAC Labs and ColorFoto. In each case, Pentax cameras were comparable to Nikon and Canon at the same price point. In FNAC Lab testing, the full-frames and the 7D and D300S beat the K-5. ColorFoto tests had a different result, with Pentax on top. I couldn't translate this one.
http://www.colorfoto.de/testbericht/7/7/6/2/0/2/Test_Autofokus_ColorFoto_2011-09.pdf
Current CDAF bodies have fast AF-S, but AF-S is not really a problem for DSLR's. CDAF AF-C is poor and tracking is non-existent. That is a much bigger issue.
The K-5 AF is now three generations old. Pentax made improvements with the each generation
- K-50 (better tracking, improved accuracy in colored light)
- K-5 II has K-50 improvements adds -3EV focussing (vs. -1EV for K-5) and an f2.8 sensitive point
- K-3 has the most sophisticated system of any APS-C camera, with 27 AF points (25 cross type), and three central points f2.8 sensitive. Tracking is again improved to a new level.
Don't forget to multiply those m4/3 apertures by 2 for FF and 1.33 for APS-C conversion. Face and eye detection are gimmicks for the Scene Mode crowd. The profusion of frills on a camera is not appealing to me in the least.
I have no problem with a tilt screen. It's cool feature the way Olympus has done it. But it is not a feature that distinguishes whether people call a body pro level or not.I guess when I shoot with my EM5 I'm an amateur, but when I pick up my D800 I turn into a pro photographer because it doesn't have an articulating screen? I can walk outside in the rain with my EM5, screen angled up and it doesn't skip a beat, and after over a year of fairly heavy use the screen mechanics function as good as new - I guess that's pro enough for someone like me who doesn't know any better
The K-3 offers what I need better than any other maker. Some people will say the same thing about their brand and be absolutely correct. I was attacked in this thread because I criticised the cost vs. performance ratio of the OM-D EM-1. I still think it is overpriced vs. a DSLR, nothing said here has changed my mind.
Jim in Hudson
Veteran Member
audiobomber
Veteran Member
Here's the summary: CDAF does very fast single AF-S, but no real AF-C and no tracking. The EM-1 has PDAF with 4/3 lenses, but not to current DSLR standards.
viking79
Veteran Member
No, the summary is it does AF-C very well, not quite to pro standards.
DpReview Conclusion:
Why do you refuse to acknowledge this? They are comparing the AF-C to a pro camera, saying it isn't quite there yet but getting close.
Eric
Last edited:
Not totally true, as front and back focus can be issues, see the last post.
An exegerated claim flatly contradicted by just posted DPR review
These work really well, actually, in PSAM mode. Face detection is smart on these cameras and the camera does better auto metering and auto white balance (for the face) when face detection is on.
I don't see how "eye detection" AF would be a "gimmick". It would be very useful especially with shallow DOF of a fast lens and CDAF cameras known from AF accuracy.
Last edited:
viking79
Veteran Member
Lithium AA cells are about 3000 mAH [1], so I would expect to get some extra over the stock battery which is a paltry 1050mAH? So should get about 3 times the life with them.
Not sure what the argument is here. Mirrorless cameras can get a lot of shots if you don't leave the screen on all the time (are taking shots more rapidly). If you stick that K-30 in live view it will be dead in no time. CIPA figures are always highly conservative, mirrorless or not.
Granted, I could shoot a wedding with my D7000 on a single battery charge (well over 1200 shots), a mirrorless probably would have needed 3 batteries in that time. If an EM-1 has a grip that will triple battery life, that would be plenty.
Bottom line is I think mirrorless battery life could be better, but I rarely have an issue as they usually last long enough for a shoot. The main issue is most of them use small batteries to keep the size down. The only mirrorless with a big battery is the Samsung Galaxy NX with its 4360 mAH battery, but it needs it for the quad core general purpose processor it has in addition to its digital signal processing engine.
Eric
Last edited:
DDoram
Veteran Member
good point!
Dale
Dale
Flickr stats are pretty neutral, with 87 million registered member (from every country). That will provide some stats on the number of users.Well it will according to their books
http://www.flickr.com/cameras/
Pentax made an unfortunate decision to use sensor shift AF on a DSLR. The captured image is stabilized but the viewfinder, AF and metering are all left with an unstabilized image to work with; this can't help but impact the ability of the AF to properly lock onto the subject quickly. The longer the focal length being used, the more jittery and 'unstable' the image is - and it is at longer focal lengths that AF tracking comes into play for things like sports.
It's like if Lexus started putting air-cooled engines in their cars to do away with cooling system maintenance - that 'benefit' cannot make up for the functional tradeoffs that result.
There's a reason the 'big boys' use optical IS on their DSLR's and it has nothing to do with making more profits on the lenses. It's because it's the logical way to do it.
Last edited:
So you haven't actually used C-AF or tracking focus on any of the cameras you're debating? I'd say tracking focus on my EM5 is more useful than my K5 was, although it's a far cry from the D800 which is amazing with the right lens.The only actual focus testing I've seen was by FNAC Labs and ColorFoto. In each case, Pentax cameras were comparable to Nikon and Canon at the same price point. In FNAC Lab testing, the full-frames and the 7D and D300S beat the K-5. ColorFoto tests had a different result, with Pentax on top. I couldn't translate this one.
http://www.colorfoto.de/testbericht/7/7/6/2/0/2/Test_Autofokus_ColorFoto_2011-09.pdf
Current CDAF bodies have fast AF-S, but AF-S is not really a problem for DSLR's. CDAF AF-C is poor and tracking is non-existent. That is a much bigger issue.
The K-5 AF is now three generations old. Pentax made improvements with the each generation
- K-50 (better tracking, improved accuracy in colored light)
- K-5 II has K-50 improvements adds -3EV focussing (vs. -1EV for K-5) and an f2.8 sensitive point
- K-3 has the most sophisticated system of any APS-C camera, with 27 AF points (25 cross type), and three central points f2.8 sensitive. Tracking is again improved to a new level.
Don't forget to multiply those m4/3 apertures by 2 for FF and 1.33 for APS-C conversion. Face and eye detection are gimmicks for the Scene Mode crowd. The profusion of frills on a camera is not appealing to me in the least.
I have no problem with a tilt screen. It's cool feature the way Olympus has done it. But it is not a feature that distinguishes whether people call a body pro level or not.I guess when I shoot with my EM5 I'm an amateur, but when I pick up my D800 I turn into a pro photographer because it doesn't have an articulating screen? I can walk outside in the rain with my EM5, screen angled up and it doesn't skip a beat, and after over a year of fairly heavy use the screen mechanics function as good as new - I guess that's pro enough for someone like me who doesn't know any better
The K-3 offers what I need better than any other maker. Some people will say the same thing about their brand and be absolutely correct. I was attacked in this thread because I criticised the cost vs. performance ratio of the OM-D EM-1. I still think it is overpriced vs. a DSLR, nothing said here has changed my mind.
--
Dan
I had looked at some of those tests before I bought my K5 and used it as some kind of reassurance/justification, but one massive variable that is often overlooked is what lenses are being used for the tests? An AF test with a kit lens or the vast majority of primes (u4/3 being a major exception) is useless if you're testing speed. For most brands you have to buy top dollar lenses to utilize a body's AF potential - with Pentax the most expensive zoom lenses are often amongst the slowest for AF.
Face detection is definitely a gimmick - at least on DSLR's using live view. The only thing gimmicky about it on an Olympus is that you can shoot wide open with the 45mm F1.8 and repeatedly nail sharp eyelashes with the ~depth of field of the DA*55 @ F2.5 or F2.8, shot after shot after shot. And the gimmick works well in manual mode too
I shoot manual mode only indoors with Auto ISO (effectively TAV mode) with bounce flash, 90mm equiv focal length @ F1.8 and only have to worry about lighting and composition - which is what photography is all about IMO.I did miss ultra shallow depth of field photography though with shorter focal lengths hence the D800 (also wanted 3D AF which is killer if you've never used it before - say goodbye to focus and recompose). But even though I have the excellent 85mm F1.8 for the Nikon, more often than not I reach for the Olympus with the 45mm F1.8 when I'm doing head-shots...it's that satisfying.
I will agree with you on one thing though, the K3 is the best camera for you and that's all that really matters. If I wasn't shooting little kids the majority of the time and was still travelling and spending as much time out in the mountains as possible, I'd likely still be in the Pentax camp as well.
LTZ470
Veteran Member
Yep and add Focus peaking and CDAF is deadly accurate...
--
--Really there is a God...and He loves you..
FlickR Photostream:
www.flickr.com/photos/46756347@N08/
Mr Ichiro Kitao, I support the call to upgrade the FZ50.
I will not only buy one but two no questions asked...
kitsios_spyros
Veteran Member
Hi LTZ470,
I use focusing peaking on my K-01 all the time. I even have it on with AF lenses just to verify the point of focus before capture and to free the one customization button too. Not that CDAF is not accurate but I am not sure of the size of the CDAF sensor. Sometimes, after locking focus I may move just a little closer or further away in close up shoots.
For me, MF lenses work much easier with Catch in Focus but only when I use the central AF point only. For all other AF points and for weird shooting positions LV+FP is a great asset that I do miss on my K5ii.
K3 seems to sum it all in one camera
Great shoots, very detailed! Did you use this lens?
It looks fantastic.
I use focusing peaking on my K-01 all the time. I even have it on with AF lenses just to verify the point of focus before capture and to free the one customization button too. Not that CDAF is not accurate but I am not sure of the size of the CDAF sensor. Sometimes, after locking focus I may move just a little closer or further away in close up shoots.
For me, MF lenses work much easier with Catch in Focus but only when I use the central AF point only. For all other AF points and for weird shooting positions LV+FP is a great asset that I do miss on my K5ii.
K3 seems to sum it all in one camera
Great shoots, very detailed! Did you use this lens?
Loading…
slrgear.com
It looks fantastic.
Never thought of that before but it's an interesting point. I am pretty confident that even with IS turned off on say my Nikon 70-200 F4 3D tracking would blow away K5 or K3 tracking, especially with an SDM lens. You piqued my curiousity though, I'm going to test this next time I get out.
I used to appreciate the cost savings with Pentax's sensor based stabilization, it's a major reason I decided to buy into Pentax in the first place. But then they decided to continually hike lens prices until their non-stabilized glass was ~ the same price as Nikon's stabilized lenses with much much faster AF - big, big mistake IMO but we'll see how Ricoh handles that long term...
britcam
Veteran Member
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum