First results Pentax SMC DA*300MM F/4

Had a quick (100 shot) play with my new toy this evening, luckily the wife had spotted a Large Red Damselfly by our pond earlier. Before she pointed it out to me, I shot a Marsh Marigold, shallow DoF, quite pleased with the look of it. A robin was hopping around, got this (cropped down to show detail at 100%) handheld again. Pleased with it, bearing in mind it was such a slow shutter speed. Definitely better for handholding than my tamron.

The damselfly was taken using a tripod, just about minimum focus distance. This lens is going to be good for dragonflies...



1/45s, f/4.5, ISO200, handheld.



1/4s, f/5.6, ISO100, tripod.



1/20s, f/4.5, ISO400, handheld.

Dan

Superb Dan , I love the dragonfly
How close to it were you when you took the shot :

I love the results too, very good.
Well done and thanks for posting.

Hey Dan,

Great pictures - I'm glad WE get to benefit from your new toy!

Although the damsel fly is striking, I love the simplicity (again!) of the marsh marigold shot; the depth of field is perfect - the bokeh has just enough detail to add interest, but blurred enough to let the flower stand out. I expect it will make your 2009 calendar?

Keep it up! ''

The damselfly was from about minimum focus distance, which is a little over 4 feet. I may have been using my 1.4x converter with this shot, can't remember, and you can't tell from the EXIF.

By the way, the converter is the Tamron 1.4x AF, with the power contacts which allows SDM to work too, which is a bonus. Tended to hunt a bit last night, but it was a bit dark.

Anyway, gotta go, doing breakfasts for 25 people!

Dan

Dan,

Very nice shots.

With you and Chirpy both posting DA* 300 shots on the forum, I think that I had better keep my efforts to myself

The close focus ability of the DA* 300 is great, just like having another macro lens.

Breakfast for 25 sounds rather arduous, unless you just give them cornflakes

The damselfly is a corker. Lovely bokeh on the marsh marigold. I need to get out and about with mine soon.

Had another play with it tonight after my macro workshop, spent a half hour or so taking pot-shots at Whitethroats and Goldfinches, although they were too far away really. But then had a go at 'Percy' Pheasant, which roams around by the Visitor Centre at Fingringhoe Wick. Will post results in a bit, but they looked promising at the time.

Breakfast was scrambled egg on toast with beans on the side. We did the Dawn Chorus walk today at work, although as I'd already got the workshop booked at the other end of the county, I just went in to help with the food. Still had to get up at 5.30am though, which is not my cup of tea.

Cornflakes next year may be a good idea...

Oh, and Keith, perhaps that pic may be on next years calendar, I'll be sorting that out in september so I'll see then.

Dan

Just having a quick look through the shots - I love this lens! The goldfinch shots are great, even though the birds are small in the frame - sharp and well detailed.

Will post some soon, as soon as I figure out which ones (very low rate of rejects so far ).

Dan

Here are a few from today, sorry if you don't have this lens yet.

First up, a Whitethroat, shot at f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO200. Uncropped image first, to show how small the bird is in the frame.




Now a crop to show the bird at 100%...




...and now a crop of the top left corner, note lack of purple fringing.




A crop of another shot, same settings...




A Goldfinch, doing a passable Santa Claus impression. Same settings, 100% crop again.




...and another...




And finally Percy the Pheasant, 1/180s, f/5.6, ISO200. Couldn't get a clear shot without the nettles in front of him...




Very few mis-focused shots, and I'm sure that was mostly me getting used to the lens. Did I mention I love it already?

Dan

All gorgeous photos!

I've seen nothing but good from this lens so far, even I'm starting to get tempted...

Same here!

I can't wait to spend some time on some bird shots, the ones above were just for the sake of it, to see how well it focused etc. The small birds were taken handheld too, which I wouldn't have been able to do with my Tamron (well, not for long anyway ).

Hopefully I'll soon be able to try it out with the local ducks, and the blue tits and robins at home.

Cheers,
Dan

Wonderful shots Dan, the colours on that pheasant are stunning.
I can see a host of DA* 300mm shots coming up in the next few weeks

It seems everyone has got themselves a macro or 300* this week. What gives :

Well, it's spring up here (more insects, birds, flowers) which is probably the northern hemisphere excuse. What's yours?

I know what you mean, been searching for an FA 100mm Macro for a while, finally found a decent looking one last week, just gotta wait now!