Hi, please tell me how well your lens works for action photos? I want a lens for indoor & outdoor sports...my 3 kids play year round. Thanks so much!
1028370
The focus speed will greatly depend on your camera body. I have a K20D and it's a bit on the slow side as focus speed goes. On a newer camera body it could be better but I don't know. Perhaps someone with this lens and a newer camera body will respond to your question.
1028371
This is a great lens, but sports is not really it's thing. Out it might do alright. Sigma has always been the winner for sports, either the 50-150 2.8 or the 70-200 2.8. Don't just take my word for it. Look at the Pentax forums website under the tab lens database. Real helpful reviews.
1028372
Sorry I have not got a,clue as mine doesn't focus anywhere. My lens like many others does not autofocus. Personally I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole as it worked for just over a year. Pentax did nothing so it is just collecting dust.
1028373
Hi B. Sabb,I have use this lens for at least 2 yrs and taking tons of photo with that. It is a very sharp lens after f2.8 and excellent for portraiture.But it is not focus quick. If u want a quick Pentax lens, u might consider the one with "screw-drive" only, say the DA70. It is super sharp and focus quick.Enjoy your shooting.If u want to take your kids photo, i recommend u take the FA31 instead. As kids always move sudden and go closer to u, a wider lens is much better.Adam
1028374
I don't have it but after the description, there's an ultrasonic autofocus motor inside that lens which can only be used with the latest DSLRs, from the K10D on.
170019
Jason, I am a newbie to taking pictures using anything other than a point and shoot!! But, I love this lens. I used it last night for my grandchildren's Christmas program at church. The church was dimly lit with the stage lit. I used no flash with it set on night scene. The pictures are great, even for an amateur like me. As far as the motor, all I know is that I just screw it on the body and start taking pictures. I love the range of the zoom. I could zoom out and get the entire group or in and get my precious ones. I would buy it again with no hesitation. It is much lighter than my Tamron low light lens, so if either will work for the situation, I choose this lens. Jason, I am a newbie to taking pictures using anything other than a point and shoot!! But, I love this lens. I used it last night for my grandchildren's Christmas program at church. The church was dimly lit with the stage lit. I used no flash with it set on night scene. The pictures are great, even for an amateur like me. As far as the motor, all I know is that I just screw it on the body and start taking pictures. I love the range of the zoom. I could zoom out and get the entire group or in and get my precious ones. I would buy it again with no hesitation. It is much lighter than my Tamron... » Read More Jason, I am a newbie to taking pictures using anything other than a point and shoot!! But, I love this lens. I used it last night for my grandchildren's Christmas program at church. The church was dimly lit with the stage lit. I used no flash with it set on night scene. The pictures are great, even for an amateur like me. As far as the motor, all I know is that I just screw it on the body and start taking pictures. I love the range of the zoom. I could zoom out and get the entire group or in and get my precious ones. I would buy it again with no hesitation. It is much lighter than my Tamron low light lens, so if either will work for the situation, I choose this lens. « Show Less
599075
Outside no problem. Inside or in low light you need to boost the ISO quite a bit. If you are shooting things that move IS is no lost at all this is because for most sports or bird in flight you need to be at 1/500 anyway to freeze the motion. I had the lens for over a year, was hesitating to buy it for exactly the same reason and in the end its a really fantastic lens and I don't miss IS at all.
2148233
I've taken some nice shots of football players with this lense, but they were day games. It's a bit dark when fully extended (300mm), but if your camera handles ISO's of 400 - 800 well, it can be used. IMHO, it's as good as any in this price range. Idealy you would want a faster lense for sports, and that speed will cost you.
942879
non professional here!i am so confused by some of the pro's here ! so someone please tell me,will it work on my nikon D 60, Then, for a amature-beginner- training pants guy, how will this do for real estate, mountains, gardens, charging grizzly, kidds christmas with sants, high school photos of the kids,, antique autos, the " Hoss" an buggy, does anyone get my ideas, there is two guys on the reviewsthat sound incredibaly smart, good show, i so want to get this lens, BUT ? J.R. Massachusetts
396481
I'm curious . Did you return or keep your lens and are you satisfied with it ? I'm looking to order one for my camera . Thanks .
1582486
Brandon. It doesn't say when you asked this question but I figured the answer out. First, I just purchased the last one that a storefront had for $289, so i'm sorry if I stole the lens from you :X. Second, the price is going to be interesting on this lens from here on out. It has been discontinued due to a recently announced new model. The question is how much will this new model cost? To my knowledge that hasn't been answered. I decided to snag it at this price because if the new model is upwards of $400 then it out of my price range anyway. If the new model comes out sub $400 this older model might tank in price. Supply and demand will dictate based on that information. As for big stores, I don't see you having much luck. Most did firesales and liquidated their stock already to mitigate the price risk. I can tell you that this is my first fixed lens for general photography. It hasnt even arrived yet, but when it does I plan to test it out. If its not to my liking I can resell it to you at the price I purchased + the tax I paid + shipping. I would generally just return it but that lowers your chance of it ending up in your hands. If this was a recent post just come back to me and I can show you proof that it hasn't even arrived yet :). Take care!
1270623
Hi, before buying this 55-200 I would rent the lens and try. After checking if this is enough for softball games, I would decide what to buy.You might be able to find similar prices for the 100-300mm as well.
691052
I am alos looking to buy a rebel xti and want to photograph my son playing sports. What lens did you buy for sporting events?
910058
Photofun123-I am in a similar situation. What did you decide on and what do you think of it? I will be getting a 50d and only one lens. My main subject will be my toddler. I am considering 24-70 and 24-105. Thanks.
2069581
Sorry, I don't know. I have great results on auto focus, Closeup indoor with flash and action soccer shots, zoomed in outdoors.Tip: On the out door action shots, regardless of natural lighting, I ALWAYS use flash--I believe it shoots faster with flash onand stops the action better.
1241574
I do not if this will help you. I use it for portraits, sports and landscapes. I did not have any problems with it. I use it sometimes with my outside toddler portraits. It is not my main lens for portraits. I usually use my 50mm or 28-135mm.
1579247
If you really want sports action, then even the lowest grade SLR beats any point and shoot camera. I use a Canon T3 to successfully take sports action although it rates poor when compared to top line SLR's. Point and shoots have slow buffer speeds when taking fast action particularly if you also want a RAW copy. (low burst response; the Nikon 7000 cannot be used for sports) You can buy the T3 with a basic lens for $499.00 and get superior shots to anything produced by such cameras as the G-12. I love the G-12 and use it for my walk around camera. The T-3 does all my heavy lifting for semi-pro shooting and enlargements.If you are a really serious sports photographer and want pro results then by all means buy at least a D60 Canon! The Sx 40 is a good camera but that lens never produces real sharp prints and the lens speed is slow for fast action.
1942888
We recently got the EOS Rebel T5i and are very happy with it. Even though this set comes with 4 lenses, we really only use two ... telephoto and the one for portraits. For kids in sports, this is a great camera - up shutter speed and put it on the burst setting and you can get great quality still photos of action shots along with the set of them hitting the ball or catching the pass. We've used it for golfing and have some great series of pictures for driving the ball and sinking the putt!
2131313
I bought this lens just for that purpose. Takes excellent photos, even with the 2x converter. That is the setup I use with my Nikon D7000 for my Son's lacrosse games. Obviously does very well on sunny days. No regrets!
1104961
For us action shots have been great as long as you are on the action setting... they tend to be blurry if you stay on automatic
1551101
That is exactly why I purchased this lens and I love it! The focus is a bit soft if you try and go below f2.2, but as I'm generally shooting moving children I usually keep it around f2.5 or 2.8 anyway. Hope this helps!