I too often forget about IS with my 150-450. Thanks for being our test dummy. :) That lens is looking more attractive to me after your experience with it.
I use the 70-210 on the K-1 MII and K-3 MIII. I have to say that it absolutely shines on the K-3 MIII. My copy does really well on the K-1 MII unlike some of the so so reviews I read on the Pentax Forum. The lens pairs nicely with the 1.4 Teleconverter and maintains a 5.6 constant aperture with excellent autofocus performance on the K-3 MIII.
Great content and images! For your shooting needs and environment you need an AW lens for dustproof and splashproof designation. Your camera body, and grip are dustproof and splashproof. WR lenses are only splashproof. Of course AW lenses have many additional benefits which is why they fetch a premium price.
When I paired the DA*300 prime with the K3-iii at first I thought the lens needed calibration, because my bird photos were focusing a bit off. So I played with it by hand, instead of using a calibration tool, and at first I thought I had it solved. But many of my shots were still out of focus. So eventually I downloaded a pdf with a test pattern, printed it out, and checked. Turned out the lens and camera are perfectly calibrated and I didn't need the fine adjustment! The errors were all down to my autofocus settings, and the autofocus choosing the branch or leaf instead of the bird. So I just have to learn to use smaller point focus and aim better. And work out all the other settings, too. I highly recommend doing the calibration, even if it seems like you already solved it. You don't need to buy a tool, just print 1 page.
I went back out with the lens & K3iii today and came away with good results. Like I said it could have been multiple things that led to my initial shots coming back out of focus.
@welshskies Cheers mate , very much appreciated. I actually got to ride a bike last weekend after I'd finished the days work taking photos of them all! 8 years since I last rode properly so i was a bit rusty but it was so much fun! I'll have to try & get some footage next time I hop on one haha 😄
@@LeeIveson I used to do a lot of road motorcycling, commuting and touring but I was absolutely rubbish at off road and trails. I latterly had a series of big Moto Guzzis, not bikes to do motocross on. 🤣 The bright colours of the motocross bikes and gear really seem to come out well with Pentax.
Well that lens is certainly working for you. As you know it didn’t for me, I traded up to the DFA 150-400 and haven’t looked back except for the backache!
2:30 interesting...lately I have major headache with close to infinity focus/iq with K1ii and 150-450. Just today I was laying on the ground, trying to focus on a kestrel sitting in a field, frantically adjusting focus, changing shutter speed, aperture...It looked horrible no matter the settings...so maybe this could help. It is strange that K70 seems to have better ibis perfomance with the lens where I shot sharp photos handheld under 1/200 (even tho holding and bracing myself against a wall) but on K1, once I go under 1/400, everything is outright blurred or soft...maybe the apsc sensor has more room to move with a ff lens and mount idk
Lee My three lens setup is the 16-50 2.8 , 55'- 300 PLM and the 150- 450 I use the 16-50 for landscapes, portraits and general photography The 55- 300 speaks for its self my most used lens on my K3-III The 150 - 450 is a quality lens ,super sharp great for wildlife,the only downside is it's a heavy lens to carry I generally use it mounted on a tripod with a gimble head as the lens and camera weight in at 8 pounds
Worked like a charm today, so I think it's all good now. Yeah turning the SR off at fast shutter speeds seems to have helped from what I'm seeing at least.
I caught your mention of possibly comparing the K3-III and the Nikon D500 someday, perhaps as being more of a fair side-by-side according to some folks. I have extensive experience using those two bodies, carried for wildlife on the same mornings and shot under the same conditions. More often than not of the same subjects and within seconds of each other. The Nikon was using a Tamron 150-600 5.6-6.3 Di VC, and the Pentax a DFA 150-450. Without going into a bunch of details, after a few months using both, the D500 and its lenses were sold. The K3-III gives me better results, easier to operate, and in a smaller form factor. Oh, and based on your glowing review, I just ordered the 70-210. Thanks for all the work you put into reviewing it.
Ahh that's very interesting 🤔 the D500 is probably considered by any as the tip of the spear when it comes to APSC dslr cameras that are capable of capturing fast action! I'm very happy with the 70-210 now after a little trouble shooting its working great with the K3iii. Awesome that you have pulled the trigger on your own copy! Let me know how you find it works with your K3iii. Cheers 🍻
Hey Lee, Another great advantage you have with the new lens; it's made for the full frame sensor size. I'm not saying that you will be jumping onto the K-1 iii as soon as it releases... but who knows. You might very well get a review copy... and in 2-3-5 years, if ever you were to decided to switch to a full frame Pentax, it's a lens you will be able to keep on using. As soon as you mentioned this lens in your reveal vid, I thought it made lots of sense, even more than the 150-450 I had initially expected. The main reason, is the one you mentioned; internal focusing. Especially for the dirty settings you're in. I think this was the very smart purchase. Now, what about the focal? Do you feel you are missing out on the 55-70mm and/or the 210-300mm range? Is it a substantial impact for your type of photoshoots? 🍻
Ahh, yeah, wouldn't that be awesome! If Pentax do bring a K1iii to market I'd love to test it out for sure! Like you say the DFA 70-210 is made for full frame, so it would work great! The 150-450 although a great lens would probably be a little big & heavy for a full day's work at the tracks. And yeah the internal zoom of the DFA 70-210 made it the right choice for me. The range loss does sometimes come I into play, but like most things it's about compromise. Somthing I've found great about the K3iii is that the images can handle a decent crop vs. its predecessors so that comes in useful when I find myself looking for that little extra reach, it's not ideal but it gets me out of a pinch!
Great video, fantastic captures, colours, mood, everythind lines up perfectly, thank you Lee! How do you feel about zoom ring at the end of the barrel now since you put some miles on the lens already?
Thanks man, really appreciate it! I'm actually getting to grips with it, I think I've broken the muscle memory from using the 7Dii & 70-200. I went back out to the track today and was very happy with the results from the 70-210, so I think it's working how it should now 😀
Glad you sorted things. My first thought was check the Firmware. I had an Issue with a Sigma 120-400mm years ago & that sorted it. I can't wait for Zoom & Prime lenses to get the PLM treatment. A 400mm f5.6 or 300mm f4 PLM would be epic. Really looking forward to seeing your first session. :)
Random FF/BF is rather standard with SAFOX. The problem with Pentax method of AF fine tuning is that it is one number for everything. But most zoom lenses need at least 3-4 different calibrations around the zoom range. Then you need different calibration for different apertures in many cases as some lenses have aperture shift. And last is distance shift. So you might do perfect AF tuning for 200mm at F4 for 2m working distance, then you use the lens at 10m distance with F6.3 and it might be off :D Try to find Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX DG HSM II. You'll be able to find it much cheaper, it is F2.8, not much larger or heavier and it is FAST. I have multiple shots of swallows in flight taken with it and old K5.. it should shine on K3III. It also does not extend during zooming, so if you put protective sleeve on it, you can shoot in dust all day long. Not sealed, but pro-grade build quality.
I’m actually about to sell my Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX that I’ve had for over a decade as I’ve just bought the Pentax DFA 70-210 f4 (got it cheap on sale from the Australian Pentax distributor which motivated me after long time sitting in the fence). I haven’t had any issues with the optical performance of the Sigma on my K-1 ii and I like having f2.8 but I’m such an occasional user of a Tele zoom the three big motivations of the switching from the Siigma to Pentax are (1) weather sealing (2) weight - the Pentax is ⅔ of the weight - 400g lighter and (3) my Sigma only has the noisy screw drive. It works well but noisy. The other thing is lens coating but that’s a minor thing. Anyway I’ve just received the Pentax and yet to take it out for testing and calibration. I agree with you that with zooms, calibration can vary based on focal length. Hopefully in lucky and will be like my DFA28-105 and be perfect throughout the range. Fingers crossed 🤞 😂
@@shred3005 The older body driven has advantage that there is no motor to worry about, but that HSM is very fast focusing as it is proper ring ultrasonic motor like Canon and Nikon have. I also have body driven Tamron 70-200/2.8, slower, bit noisy, but works even on my film bodies like MZ10. But using APS-C only.. it takes the best central part of image circle.
The problem for me is that I really do need a weather sealed lens, WR at least AW is ideal. You should try shooting at some of these Motocross events and you will soon find out that weather sealing is needed!
@@LeeIveson in case you are showering the camera after such muddy adventure, keep in mind that seals degrade over time. 2-3 years it might be ok, but it gradually weakens with age and wear.. I would not put my K5, 18-55WR or some older 18-135WR in heavy rain again. And even with K3 I'll be more careful than 5 years ago. Btw yeasterday we had local uphill race for oldtimer veterans including motorcycles. I usually use K3 and 18-135WR with good results, but this time I also had my Olympus EM5III with 12-100/4 to try some comparison. K3 was doing what it can, but that Oly is a beast, it simply tracks AF-C the damn racing motorcycles going 80-90km/h pass me. Next time Im afraid K3 will stay at home.. and that lens is crazy sharp at F4 while 18-135WR does not match it even with F6.3 (most shots around 45-70mm where image is much better than on 18 or 135mm). Uff. If you can borrow that thing for some time or EM1II or EM1III.. give it a try.
I have huge problems with the 35mm 1.4 art from Sigma on my Pentax KP. With every update the problems got worse. The focus is never where I focus. But I like the lens 😢
There is no pentax camera around that can focus F1.4 lenses well. I mostly used live view on K5 with 35/1.4. On K3 I rarely use that lens as I added 18-35/1.8 in the meantime which works a bit better. But still far from what my Olympus EM5III can do with 25/1.7 and 45/1.8 lenses. Different world. Wide open and focus nailed on eyes.
So pretty much you got yourself a bad lens that is quite rare send it back get it replacement as soon as you can And on that note I hope you get a new lens from wherever you got it from take care my dude
If haven't seen it here's the first time I got to use the Pentax DFA 70-210mm f4 th-cam.com/video/mRa-cZizueI/w-d-xo.html
I too often forget about IS with my 150-450. Thanks for being our test dummy. :)
That lens is looking more attractive to me after your experience with it.
@warrenmerrill532 I'm very happy with it. After some tweeking around it seems to be working great paired with the K3iii
I use the 70-210 on the K-1 MII and K-3 MIII. I have to say that it absolutely shines on the K-3 MIII. My copy does really well on the K-1 MII unlike some of the so so reviews I read on the Pentax Forum. The lens pairs nicely with the 1.4 Teleconverter and maintains a 5.6 constant aperture with excellent autofocus performance on the K-3 MIII.
Great content and images! For your shooting needs and environment you need an AW lens for dustproof and splashproof designation. Your camera body, and grip are dustproof and splashproof. WR lenses are only splashproof. Of course AW lenses have many additional benefits which is why they fetch a premium price.
@AllistonOnElement Yeah i agree it would be ideal if it had AW.
When I paired the DA*300 prime with the K3-iii at first I thought the lens needed calibration, because my bird photos were focusing a bit off. So I played with it by hand, instead of using a calibration tool, and at first I thought I had it solved. But many of my shots were still out of focus. So eventually I downloaded a pdf with a test pattern, printed it out, and checked. Turned out the lens and camera are perfectly calibrated and I didn't need the fine adjustment! The errors were all down to my autofocus settings, and the autofocus choosing the branch or leaf instead of the bird. So I just have to learn to use smaller point focus and aim better. And work out all the other settings, too.
I highly recommend doing the calibration, even if it seems like you already solved it. You don't need to buy a tool, just print 1 page.
I went back out with the lens & K3iii today and came away with good results. Like I said it could have been multiple things that led to my initial shots coming back out of focus.
Thank you Lee. Your motocross work is amazing. The action and colours are great.
@welshskies Cheers mate , very much appreciated. I actually got to ride a bike last weekend after I'd finished the days work taking photos of them all! 8 years since I last rode properly so i was a bit rusty but it was so much fun! I'll have to try & get some footage next time I hop on one haha 😄
@@LeeIveson I used to do a lot of road motorcycling, commuting and touring but I was absolutely rubbish at off road and trails. I latterly had a series of big Moto Guzzis, not bikes to do motocross on. 🤣 The bright colours of the motocross bikes and gear really seem to come out well with Pentax.
Well that lens is certainly working for you. As you know it didn’t for me, I traded up to the DFA 150-400 and haven’t looked back except for the backache!
2:30 interesting...lately I have major headache with close to infinity focus/iq with K1ii and 150-450. Just today I was laying on the ground, trying to focus on a kestrel sitting in a field, frantically adjusting focus, changing shutter speed, aperture...It looked horrible no matter the settings...so maybe this could help. It is strange that K70 seems to have better ibis perfomance with the lens where I shot sharp photos handheld under 1/200 (even tho holding and bracing myself against a wall) but on K1, once I go under 1/400, everything is outright blurred or soft...maybe the apsc sensor has more room to move with a ff lens and mount idk
Lee
My three lens setup is the 16-50 2.8 , 55'- 300 PLM and the 150- 450
I use the 16-50 for landscapes, portraits and general photography
The 55- 300 speaks for its self my most used lens on my K3-III
The 150 - 450 is a quality lens ,super sharp great for wildlife,the only downside is it's a heavy lens to carry I generally use it mounted on a tripod with a gimble head as the lens and camera weight in at 8 pounds
Basically the best lens combination for Pentax APSC to cover as much real estate as possible 👌
Great shots. Glad you sorted out the focus issues. Ive been wondering about IBIS causing issues at times. Something to experiment with.
Worked like a charm today, so I think it's all good now. Yeah turning the SR off at fast shutter speeds seems to have helped from what I'm seeing at least.
Your photo samples always deliver
Cheers mate, I appreciate it 👍
Fantastic quality. Great sharpness, color and your eye / timing for action is superb.
It seems to be working well now, so I'm very happy with it! And thanks very much 📷
I caught your mention of possibly comparing the K3-III and the Nikon D500 someday, perhaps as being more of a fair side-by-side according to some folks.
I have extensive experience using those two bodies, carried for wildlife on the same mornings and shot under the same conditions. More often than not of the same subjects and within seconds of each other. The Nikon was using a Tamron 150-600 5.6-6.3 Di VC, and the Pentax a DFA 150-450.
Without going into a bunch of details, after a few months using both, the D500 and its lenses were sold. The K3-III gives me better results, easier to operate, and in a smaller form factor.
Oh, and based on your glowing review, I just ordered the 70-210. Thanks for all the work you put into reviewing it.
Ahh that's very interesting 🤔 the D500 is probably considered by any as the tip of the spear when it comes to APSC dslr cameras that are capable of capturing fast action!
I'm very happy with the 70-210 now after a little trouble shooting its working great with the K3iii. Awesome that you have pulled the trigger on your own copy! Let me know how you find it works with your K3iii. Cheers 🍻
Nice work as always!
Thanks mate, I appreciate it 👍
Hey Lee,
Another great advantage you have with the new lens; it's made for the full frame sensor size.
I'm not saying that you will be jumping onto the K-1 iii as soon as it releases... but who knows. You might very well get a review copy... and in 2-3-5 years, if ever you were to decided to switch to a full frame Pentax, it's a lens you will be able to keep on using.
As soon as you mentioned this lens in your reveal vid, I thought it made lots of sense, even more than the 150-450 I had initially expected. The main reason, is the one you mentioned; internal focusing. Especially for the dirty settings you're in. I think this was the very smart purchase.
Now, what about the focal? Do you feel you are missing out on the 55-70mm and/or the 210-300mm range? Is it a substantial impact for your type of photoshoots?
🍻
Ahh, yeah, wouldn't that be awesome! If Pentax do bring a K1iii to market I'd love to test it out for sure! Like you say the DFA 70-210 is made for full frame, so it would work great!
The 150-450 although a great lens would probably be a little big & heavy for a full day's work at the tracks. And yeah the internal zoom of the DFA 70-210 made it the right choice for me.
The range loss does sometimes come I into play, but like most things it's about compromise. Somthing I've found great about the K3iii is that the images can handle a decent crop vs. its predecessors so that comes in useful when I find myself looking for that little extra reach, it's not ideal but it gets me out of a pinch!
Great video, fantastic captures, colours, mood, everythind lines up perfectly, thank you Lee! How do you feel about zoom ring at the end of the barrel now since you put some miles on the lens already?
Thanks man, really appreciate it! I'm actually getting to grips with it, I think I've broken the muscle memory from using the 7Dii & 70-200.
I went back out to the track today and was very happy with the results from the 70-210, so I think it's working how it should now 😀
Glad you sorted things. My first thought was check the Firmware. I had an Issue with a Sigma 120-400mm years ago & that sorted it.
I can't wait for Zoom & Prime lenses to get the PLM treatment. A 400mm f5.6 or 300mm f4 PLM would be epic. Really looking forward to seeing your first session. :)
400/5.6? With their sales? Dream on.
@@xmeda I would hope there are a few people that wish to upgrade with a PLM option. The K3iii was a great surprise, so who knows.
Yeah it seems to be working well now!
Ohh yes please more PLM lenses would be lovley!
Random FF/BF is rather standard with SAFOX. The problem with Pentax method of AF fine tuning is that it is one number for everything. But most zoom lenses need at least 3-4 different calibrations around the zoom range. Then you need different calibration for different apertures in many cases as some lenses have aperture shift. And last is distance shift. So you might do perfect AF tuning for 200mm at F4 for 2m working distance, then you use the lens at 10m distance with F6.3 and it might be off :D
Try to find Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX DG HSM II. You'll be able to find it much cheaper, it is F2.8, not much larger or heavier and it is FAST. I have multiple shots of swallows in flight taken with it and old K5.. it should shine on K3III. It also does not extend during zooming, so if you put protective sleeve on it, you can shoot in dust all day long. Not sealed, but pro-grade build quality.
I’m actually about to sell my Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX that I’ve had for over a decade as I’ve just bought the Pentax DFA 70-210 f4 (got it cheap on sale from the Australian Pentax distributor which motivated me after long time sitting in the fence).
I haven’t had any issues with the optical performance of the Sigma on my K-1 ii and I like having f2.8 but I’m such an occasional user of a Tele zoom the three big motivations of the switching from the Siigma to Pentax are (1) weather sealing (2) weight - the Pentax is ⅔ of the weight - 400g lighter and (3) my Sigma only has the noisy screw drive. It works well but noisy. The other thing is lens coating but that’s a minor thing. Anyway I’ve just received the Pentax and yet to take it out for testing and calibration. I agree with you that with zooms, calibration can vary based on focal length. Hopefully in lucky and will be like my DFA28-105 and be perfect throughout the range. Fingers crossed 🤞 😂
@@shred3005 The older body driven has advantage that there is no motor to worry about, but that HSM is very fast focusing as it is proper ring ultrasonic motor like Canon and Nikon have.
I also have body driven Tamron 70-200/2.8, slower, bit noisy, but works even on my film bodies like MZ10.
But using APS-C only.. it takes the best central part of image circle.
The problem for me is that I really do need a weather sealed lens, WR at least AW is ideal. You should try shooting at some of these Motocross events and you will soon find out that weather sealing is needed!
@@LeeIveson in case you are showering the camera after such muddy adventure, keep in mind that seals degrade over time. 2-3 years it might be ok, but it gradually weakens with age and wear.. I would not put my K5, 18-55WR or some older 18-135WR in heavy rain again. And even with K3 I'll be more careful than 5 years ago.
Btw yeasterday we had local uphill race for oldtimer veterans including motorcycles. I usually use K3 and 18-135WR with good results, but this time I also had my Olympus EM5III with 12-100/4 to try some comparison. K3 was doing what it can, but that Oly is a beast, it simply tracks AF-C the damn racing motorcycles going 80-90km/h pass me. Next time Im afraid K3 will stay at home.. and that lens is crazy sharp at F4 while 18-135WR does not match it even with F6.3 (most shots around 45-70mm where image is much better than on 18 or 135mm). Uff.
If you can borrow that thing for some time or EM1II or EM1III.. give it a try.
I think Pentax made a mistake canceling the 50-135mm f2.8. Now they are just bring out full frame lens.
I have the 50-135 lens, with using the 1.4 multiplier if necessary. I decided the weight of the 70-210 would put me off carrying and using it.
Does it have focus breathing issues?
I don't think so 🤔
I have huge problems with the 35mm 1.4 art from Sigma on my Pentax KP. With every update the problems got worse. The focus is never where I focus. But I like the lens 😢
There is no pentax camera around that can focus F1.4 lenses well. I mostly used live view on K5 with 35/1.4. On K3 I rarely use that lens as I added 18-35/1.8 in the meantime which works a bit better.
But still far from what my Olympus EM5III can do with 25/1.7 and 45/1.8 lenses. Different world. Wide open and focus nailed on eyes.
So pretty much you got yourself a bad lens that is quite rare send it back get it replacement as soon as you can
And on that note I hope you get a new lens from wherever you got it from take care my dude
Hmm I'm not sure about that, I got some fairly ok shots.
I used it again today and had sharp images.