K-1's AF... Cue the Mud Slinging (15)

[MightyMike]

Don't you just love these post titles with dual meanings LOL

These photos were taken almost a month ago, it was my first time shooting motocross, I used the K-1 and Sigma 100-300mm F4.0 EX DG and often I was too close to the action for even 100mm, however i did regularly switch between APS-C and FF modes. We were granted access into the track which allowed for plenty of different shooting angles. I took over 700 photos but due to a computer glitch I lost around 100, I kept almost 400 and 91 made it into the gallery. Obviously what you see posted here is just a small election and to get the full scope of the event you should probably view the gallery.

The Gallery: http://www.michaelfastphotography.com/galleries/k-1/sports/motocross1/

2400x1600 pixel crop

--
Mike from Canada
"I am not a great photographer! God is a great creator! All I do is capture His creation with the tools He has provided me."
'I like to think so far outside the box that it would require a telephoto lens just to see the box!' ~ 'My Quote '

http://www.michaelfastphotography.com/galleries/VP-BDI_3a.jpg

Aviation Photo Search | Airliners.net

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[Mark Ransom]

That's a great sampling, thanks for sharing them!

I don't think the issue was whether Pentax cameras could take well focused photos, I think it's about the hit rate. How confident are you that when you hit the shutter button, you're going to get a well focused photo? How many of those 700 pictures did you have to throw out due to being misfocused? I'm not trying to start a fight here, I'm genuinely curious.

I've always found that taking far more pictures than you need will insure you get a few worth keeping. It's not always about focus either.

 

[solarider]

Mostly side-shots, easy for any AF system most of the time.

You didn't include the hard to take shots, the ones that stress the Pentax AF ending in when the camera refuses to fire, takes OOF shots, etc.

Other than that, I didn't learn anything new.

Best wishes.

--
It's difficult thinking outside of the box because thinking is the box.
Paraphrasing Dr. Gabor Maté quoting Michael Braun.
_______________
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, the rational mind is a faithful servant.
We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
________________
Science... became Scientism, which means it didn't just pursue its own truths, it aggressively denied that there were any other truths at all... Ken Wilber
__________
Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next. - Jonas Salk
What really happened? http://www.jchristoff.com/15-things-you-dont-know-about-polio-2/
__________
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous - Albert Einstein

 

[MightyMike]

That's a great sampling, thanks for sharing them!

I don't think the issue was whether Pentax cameras could take well focused photos, I think it's about the hit rate. How confident are you that when you hit the shutter button, you're going to get a well focused photo? How many of those 700 pictures did you have to throw out due to being misfocused? I'm not trying to start a fight here, I'm genuinely curious.

I'm curious about the same stuff... lets make it out of the 625 or so that remained after that computer glitch, I kept 399 to be so that is 4 in 6.25 or 64%... however I played around with shutter speeds as low as 1/100th sec of which most were deleted, 1/200th sec were better, 1/500th sec had a lot more keepers but still some deleted due to motion blur. I also left the SR on *whoops* which can account for some ruined photos but could have helped others. And finally I deleted quite a few due to chopping heads off. So of the estimated 225 that were deleted probably (estimating high to be more conservative about how well the camera performs) 150 were due to mis-focus and that wasn't always the cameras fault (think operator error)

150 bad focused photos out of 625 is just 24%, personally so long as the hit rate for focus is above 50% I think I'm doing good, lately with sports its been 65-75% for me

I've always found that taking far more pictures than you need will insure you get a few worth keeping. It's not always about focus either.

True, the more you take the more keepers you get... however I don't need 20fps thats just too many similar photos

 

[MightyMike]

Mostly side-shots, easy for any AF system most of the time.

You didn't include the hard to take shots, the ones that stress the Pentax AF ending in when the camera refuses to fire, takes OOF shots, etc.

Did you even bother to look at the gallery? How about those photos where they're coming over the hill essentially straight at you and you've got less than a split second to put the focus point on the bike have the camera focus, fire off a couple shots and then be ready for the next bike coming over the jump

Other than that, I didn't learn anything new.

Well thats not my fault is it!

Best wishes.

 

[flektogon]

Absolutely perfect pictures!

 

[Robert A F]

Don't you just love these post titles with dual meanings LOL

These photos were taken almost a month ago, it was my first time shooting motocross, I used the K-1 and Sigma 100-300mm F4.0 EX DG and often I was too close to the action for even 100mm, however i did regularly switch between APS-C and FF modes. We were granted access into the track which allowed for plenty of different shooting angles. I took over 700 photos but due to a computer glitch I lost around 100, I kept almost 400 and 91 made it into the gallery. Obviously what you see posted here is just a small election and to get the full scope of the event you should probably view the gallery.

The Gallery: http://www.michaelfastphotography.com/galleries/k-1/sports/motocross1/


2400x1600 pixel crop

--
Mike from Canada
"I am not a great photographer! God is a great creator! All I do is capture His creation with the tools He has provided me."
'I like to think so far outside the box that it would require a telephoto lens just to see the box!' ~ 'My Quote '
http://www.michaelfastphotography.com/galleries/VP-BDI_3a.jpg
http://www.airliners.net/search/[email protected]&thumbnails=

Terrific. Had to clean my monitor several times. LOL

Air Force Thunderbirds are going to be in Grand Junction, CO. Sept 30 and Oct. 1st.

Can't wait.

--
Robert A F
*** Equivalence ^^^

 

[TomWret]

MMike, Well I like them. That's the big advantage of going digital. Even the "best of the rest" are not 100% perfect....give me a brake!

Nice job MM, Tom W(ret)

 

[hans_ch]

Very nice series. Very sharp, good composition, "action feeling" and nice colors.

Congrats Mike and thanks for sharing.

Hans

 

[KentG]

As someone who once did a lot of motorsports photography I see lots of good images in your gallery.

A couple of things. If you are getting subjects with a lot of air you need perspective, which means it can't be against the sky alone and it tends to wash the color out among other things. But that comes with experience. There could be examples with more speed sensation but getting that in motocross is not as easy as say track racing.

Good work there, Mike.

Kent Gittings

 

[PeterPentax]

Mostly side-shots, easy for any AF system most of the time.

You didn't include the hard to take shots, the ones that stress the Pentax AF ending in when the camera refuses to fire, takes OOF shots, etc.

 

[ozdean]

Top stuff Mike; I used to do this in my younger days along with trials.

 

[Ari Aikomus]

[No message]

 

[MightyMike]

As someone who once did a lot of motorsports photography I see lots of good images in your gallery.

Thanks

A couple of things. If you are getting subjects with a lot of air you need perspective, which means it can't be against the sky alone and it tends to wash the color out among other things.

I agree, however I was taking what i could get

But that comes with experience. There could be examples with more speed sensation but getting that in motocross is not as easy as say track racing.

Good work there, Mike.

Thanks again

Kent Gittings

 

[MightyMike]

Mostly side-shots, easy for any AF system most of the time.

You didn't include the hard to take shots, the ones that stress the Pentax AF ending in when the camera refuses to fire, takes OOF shots, etc.

--

yes , a terrible set he posted...not an out-of-focus man on a bicycle amongst them.

 

[Alex Sarbu]

Don't you just love these post titles with dual meanings LOL

Great shots, as usual - you did well in capturing the muddy atmosphere ;-)

Thanks for posting!

Alex

 

[Florida Suse]

Excellent, I will be very happy with a k1 that focuses like that

 

[Jim Beverlin]

Excellent action shots Mike. Very well done!

 

[Polacofede]

spectacular shots! Great timming and focusing.

I like this shots way more tan the motorbike sample shots that has been posted on the D850 photo samples article.

amazing!

thanks for sharing them, they are encouraging

 

[MightyMike]

spectacular shots! Great timming and focusing.

I like this shots way more tan the motorbike sample shots that has been posted on the D850 photo samples article.

I definitely had a cloudier, wetter, muddier day!

amazing!

thanks for sharing them, they are encouraging