Pentax 300mm thin out

I rarely use a 300mm prime now that I have the DFA 150-450 and the FA*400 so I'm going to let go at least one (possibly 2) of my 300mm primes.

I have a F*300/4.5, an FA*300/4.5 and an A*300/2.8 - if anyone is looking for one of these models then please send me a PM and I can provide further details on condition, price etc.
The A*300/2.8 has been listed previously

As always these will be UK only items!

Ouch! I just looked up the A*300. Now I know why you still have it!

Optically there is no reason to part with it, but the biceps have been trying to tell me it's time for it to go

No need to sell the A* if you sell the F* or FA* and use the money to buy a gym membership.

Steve

Here are some images and a bit more info about the FA*300/4.5, as this is the only lens that has generated interest so far...






















Here is the detail of the scratches on the "silver" finish of the lens and hood...







And this little image is a cropped shot of a Robin that visited the garden the other day (at f5.6) ....




The optics of the lens are in overall excellent condition. There are a couple of bits of dust inside, as you'd expect for the age of the lens, and there are some minor cleaning marks but the coatings are in great condition. The AF is excellent, almost violent , but as you can see from the images the silver coating has suffered a little (every FA* I have owned has had this to a greater or lesser degree). It's a real gem of a lens, and the slightly slower f4.5 maximum aperture is probably one of the reasons it is so relatively lightweight and compact. I've owned the DA* 300/4.0 and although it may be a tiny bit sharper and be weather resistant I'd still choose the F* or FA* over it any day.

Why???

Steve

It's one of those lens designs that just feel "right"!

IQ wise there is not a lot between the DA*, FA* and F* 300's but the compact design and the feel of the F and FA are spot on. I have no doubt that the later DA design is optimised for digital, with better coatings and that 1/3 stop faster aperture - ask the opinion of anyone who has used them both and I suspect at least 50% will agree

Perhaps you should buy one Steve and find out why

Or perhaps I shouldn't because the DA*300mm and Sigma 100-300mm are quite adequate for my 300mm needs . Both are currently doing very nicely documenting the childhood and adolescence of the herring gulls and jackdaws on a roof a couple of houses away (herring gulls nested behind the chimney, jackdaws inside the chimney). Having another 300mm prime would just be confusing!

Steve

The F* (and FA*) 300 lenses need to be handled in person to appreciate how compact they are. They all look big in images but they're tiny in real life.

You could genuinely fit these and another prime lens in the place of one DA* or Sigma.

(And they're unbelievably 'cute' too. The F* with its ugly duckling aesthetics especially)

A cute lens? That sort of statement demands proof!!

Steve

One of them is a bit of a monster, the others are pretty cute.....

Spotted a SMC Pentax A* 300mm f2.8 ED-IF for sale this morning at £1099 - and it's sold already

https://ntphotoworks.com/product/pentax-300mm-f2-8-green-star-telephoto-lens-rar...

Mine would be a few hundred less than that if anyone is interested

Bump - open to offers

Good luck with your efforts to thin down your 300mm lens collection. I have been trying to do the same with my candidate for sale being a mint condition FA* 300 F2.8 - today got offered a guitar in part exchange! As a my only musical skill is with Brass I had to pass it up

I guess these beautiful monsters peaked a few years ago and with the improvements in high ISO handling many users are happy with slightly slower, and much lighter, lenses. Your FA* will hopefully pick up some interest soon, these fast star series lenses were a real peak of Pentax professional lens production and IMO still produce incredible IQ.