Done with slow focus

ChiJeff5 wrote:

Does anybody have a m43 like gx85 or od m10? How is the focus speed on moving subjects?

By all accounts the AF-C on the Olympus E-M10 I and II is particularly poor. The Olympus E-M10 II generally only really has two poor points for it's price point:

• AF-C
• No 4K video

The reviews always comment on the poor AF-C so at least for that particular model stay clear if you want improvements in that area.

The best AF-C in m43 world are the Olympus E-M1's and Panasonic's with DFD. At least based on all the internet reviews.

Really in Pentax world the AF isn't that bad. I don't get all the negative comments. It's not class leading but you can still get plenty of keepers if you know what you are doing and select the right lenses.  I should add, I don't use any of the Pentax models with the old 11 point AF system.  That's one thing I would not go back to.

All Olympus bodies other than the E-M1s only have CDAF, so they don't track moving subjects very well in continuous AF. However, for single AF, they are lightning-fast and very accurate, including with wide-open lenses, so overall I find them enjoyable to use for most events. Reliable continuous tracking AF is a relatively recent technology (although very useful), and hardly the end-all in determining the quality and usefulness of a camera in most circumstances. Not everyone needs a D500 to photograph everyday life. Just my opinion and experience, of course.

This thread is from 2017, about a camera that was launched in 2013.

Can't we just let it be?

OP here.  Thanks for the info.  I have since bought a gx9 and 20mm 1.7 for home and street.  performance around the house is so much better.  It's such a relief.  No more focus hunting and missing opportunities or frustrated family members.  Silky smooth quiet shutter.  Of course the electronic view finder really sucks and it is not weather sealed.  To continue my migration away from Pentax and k mount and interchangable lens stress I'm contemplating my next bridge camera.

I got a quote from a nearby camera store for my k50 with itk lens.  Pretty low price, but that's the market...  Trying to sell it myself to someone local for a little more.

ChiJeff5 wrote:

OP here. Thanks for the info. I have since bought a gx9 and 20mm 1.7 for home and street. performance around the house is so much better. It's such a relief. No more focus hunting and missing opportunities or frustrated family members. Silky smooth quiet shutter. Of course the electronic view finder really sucks and it is not weather sealed. To continue my migration away from Pentax and k mount and interchangable lens stress I'm contemplating my next bridge camera.

I got a quote from a nearby camera store for my k50 with itk lens. Pretty low price, but that's the market... Trying to sell it myself to someone local for a little more.

Cool. Glad it worked out for you. There are lots of inexpensive Panasonic lenses that work great. Much better than using a bridge camera. The cool thing with Panasonic is their DFD technology that pretty much eliminates front & back focus issues. However, that only works when using Panasonic lenses. Like, the focus in the photos is dead on accurate or completely off. It much easier dealing with that than dealing with a bunch of slightly out of focus photos. Enjoy the camera!

ChiJeff5 wrote: Decided to show my friend again why an actual camera is better than an iPhone for some situations. I had a k50 in program mode with my 50mm 1.8. Afternoon outdoors. Kids running around. My camera could not get focus on the excited kids. I've played with some recent consumer level Nikon and Canon dslrs and was amazed at their quick focus. Does anybody have a m43 like gx85 or od m10? How is the focus speed on moving subjects? I'd rather ditch Pentax for a m43 than cheap dslr from canon or Nikon.

Pentax main problem is that ancient Screw-Driven 50mm f/1.8 are just too slow to keep up with moving children. Multiple gears = multiple friction points, combine with K50 weak AF motor = horrible slow focusing that cannot keep up with moving children.

Nothing against Pentax per se, but you really need a Modern AF lens:

• screw-drive Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D suffer the same problem
• Electronic driven Nikon 50mmf /1.8 G can focus quickly
• it is time to Abandon buried Screw-Drive lens from 1950.

Compare this against modern Electronic In-Lens AF Motor that uses quiet stepper motor, and the difference is night & day in EFFICIENCY & Quiet AF

• Canon has STM stepper motor
• Panasonic HD lens are all fast & quiet stepper as well
• Olympus MSC (Movie & Still Compatible)

Here is how Panasonic 25/1.7 (50mm) AF on M43

I switch from Canon DSLR to Panasonic M43. AF is very fast, in fact, Single-Shot AF seem to be faster than my Canon 30d, T1i, T2i. Where Canon still have an advantage is in Continuous AF. The weird thing is that I have greater success capturing moving children using Panasonic S-AF over C-AF. Most Mirrorless focus faster using S-AF over C-AF. Here are some shot of my nieces with a low-end Panasonic GF6

Yes. And most of the time I use spot AF. Just like a gun. If you want to hit something, look at how to use a gun.

Lutz

ChiJeff5 wrote:

I'd rather ditch Pentax for a m43 than cheap dslr from canon or Nikon.

He heh. That's your loss. The cheapest Nikon (D3500 currently) is actually a very capable, and enjoyable, camera to use. The streamlined feature set means less clutter and less messing around.

Wheatfield7 wrote:

ChiJeff5 wrote:

OP here. Thanks for the info. I have since bought a gx9 and 20mm 1.7 for home and street. performance around the house is so much better. It's such a relief. No more focus hunting and missing opportunities or frustrated family members. Silky smooth quiet shutter. Of course the electronic view finder really sucks and it is not weather sealed. To continue my migration away from Pentax and k mount and interchangable lens stress I'm contemplating my next bridge camera.

I got a quote from a nearby camera store for my k50 with itk lens. Pretty low price, but that's the market... Trying to sell it myself to someone local for a little more.

Its good that AF has improved in the past 6 years.

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Needing better AF for around the house? Love to see him try action/sports without AF 😎

Apologies to the OP if eyesight is poor.

ChiJeff5 wrote:

Had some friends and family over the other day. Decided to show my friend again why an actual camera is better than an iPhone for some situations. I had a k50 in program mode with my 50mm 1.8. Afternoon outdoors. Kids running around. My camera could not get focus on the excited kids. I've played with some recent consumer level Nikon and Canon dslrs and was amazed at their quick focus. Does anybody have a m43 like gx85 or od m10? How is the focus speed on moving subjects? I'd rather ditch Pentax for a m43 than cheap dslr from canon or Nikon.

Hi!

Today, I sold all of my Pentax gear to switch to ... Canon 6D markII.

Honestly, I love Pentax, their high level construction for lenses and body will be missed. BUT it's definitively too much painful to lose some great shoot for bad AF capabilities. I have shot Pentax since the K5, finishing with the K3 that I just sell today. Great gear for landscape and even concert and portrait. But now I have a kid and  I can't do the same picture over and over because the AF screwed...

I shoot a lot in manual with my other gear (Leica, Mamiya, all film); but I need something easy for everyday stuff.

I love Ricoh for their GR serie (that I use a lot too) but shame on them for not  having put enough money on Pentax brand and shame on me for believing they will make Pentax brand to the top again.

CatchAlive wrote:

Today, I sold all of my Pentax gear to switch to ... Canon 6D markII.

Congratulations! Not a bad choice, though the sensor lags behind the K-1 by a considerable margin.

The thing is, not all kinds of photography need state of the art autofocus, just like not all kinds of photography need the best sensor. The 6Dii is a good dSLR, and good value, but so is the K-1. They are comparable in price I believe. They just have different strengths.

Richard Murdey wrote:

CatchAlive wrote:

Today, I sold all of my Pentax gear to switch to ... Canon 6D markII.

Congratulations! Not a bad choice, though the sensor lags behind the K-1 by a considerable margin.

The thing is, not all kinds of photography need state of the art autofocus, just like not all kinds of photography need the best sensor. The 6Dii is a good dSLR, and good value, but so is the K-1. They are comparable in price I believe. They just have different strengths.

Thanks!

Yes I agree with you. We have to use a camera that fits our own needs. I lose a lot of DR with the 6D. If I was only doing landscape and portrait, I'll go K1 + calibration for great colors.

karoly7603 wrote:

Hello there from a Nikon boy:)

Is it a good choice for BIF photography the K-70 body with the new fast HD Pentax 55-300mm f4.5/6.3 PLM WR RE lens?

I have a Nikon D7200 but honestly would like to try the Pentax brand because of very low noise capability. Thank you for the help.

Regards, Karoly

From D7200, you should think about KP. That said the tracking particularly when the birds flies towards you will be a problem. The KP is going at a good discount now. (Or is it over with black Friday sales?)

I use K70 with 560mm lens. I wouldn't recommend this for BIF. This is a super combo for shooting from a hide

karoly7603 wrote:

Hello there from a Nikon boy:)

Is it a good choice for BIF photography the K-70 body with the new fast HD Pentax 55-300mm f4.5/6.3 PLM WR RE lens?

I have a Nikon D7200 but honestly would like to try the Pentax brand because of very low noise capability. Thank you for the help.

Regards, Karoly

Wait for the upcoming APS-C flagship. None of current Pentax cameras have tracking abilities like the already "old" D7200. The closest 4 are the KP, K-3II, K-1, & K-1II. They have excellent AF.S, but tracking capabilities still leave a lot to be desired. The K-70 has an even older 11 point AF system, but still has very good AF.S.

But yeah. When it comes to IQ, Pentax definitely has you covered there, especially with the K-70, KP, & K-1/1II.

^ It'll be amazing good for stills. Strictly speaking AF.S stills, you'll get about the same performance or maybe even a hair better than the D7200.

Even BIF will will get you a few keepers with some prefocusing & keeping the bird in the center, but don't expect the BIF hit rate of the D7200 with the K-70. It's not even close.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/193-pentax-k-70/330715-pentax-k-70-photo-samples.html

^ Lots of K-70 pictures there.

As far as that upcoming APS-C body, no specifications have been leaked. About the only thing that has been noticed is that Ricoh seems to have placed a larger AF point array into it from viewing the pictures of the camera, but that's about it & everything else is speculation at this point.