Bees with a 600mm :)

Was messing about with a Pentax Manual Focus 300mm lens with the A 2x-S converter the other day and spotted the Bees on the Apple Blossom, so a bit of pre-focusing and a lot of luck I got a couple of shots I enjoyed....







Click for more detailed images!

That 2nd one is a cracker, couldnt have timed it better.

Really good!

Most excellent, I thought 2x TCs weren't meant to be great?

My 300F would like one but no no I must resist.

Great photos Lenny

A couple of 'wow' shots!

Super sharp action captures! Very good job there ..... Now you'll have to share you're secrets .... You must have a special set of focus point array selections and AF-C mode choices up your sleeve .....

Impressive shots - I like no 1 best, just to be different. PS Nigel - these were with a manual focus lens so I think the AF-C settings are probably not relevant!

Doesn't get better than that, converters or not; marvellous photos

Lovely shots, puts pay to what people say about 2X converters!

Or is it a case of singer not the song!

Wow!! You can look forward to some great apples!
What was your shutter speed and aperture?

Thanks for all the comments - they are really appreciated!

There are no secrets, but a few things that I think gave these two shots an edge....

Firstly, the tele-converter is from the same era as the lens and was regarded as very high quality in its day, and although it's not a matched converter as such it is recommended for lenses up to 300mm (the 'L' version is suitable for lenses of 300mm and above).

Secondly, I've moved away from my usual AV mode and I'm now very much into TAV mode. This allows me to ensure I select a shutter speed that's fast enough to freeze the action and also to avoid long lens shake, plus I can set an aperture that gives the right amount of depth of field (for these two shots the speed was 1/640 and the aperture was f6.3 - which might actually be f13, the converter doesn't adjust the values ). The light was so good that I new the ISO wouldn't wander too high.

Thirdly, I mentioned it was a manual focus lens - well the fact it is an A*300/2.8 means it is bright in the viewfinder and the quality is truly superb.

No Rocket Science - although the kit does look a bit like a Rocket Launcher

An A * 300mm f2.8
Going away to drool now

That particular rear converter doesn't cost the normal arm and a leg. You see them on E Bay for £40 - 50 and, as you can see, they deliver. (I paid £5 for mine).
Another fairly good one is the K T6 - 2X which does not have the through-contacts. Wish I could get a 300* at bargain basement price though

Fair play, I was in my parents house with their apple tree trying to get a similar shot and found out they move quick, trying to pre-empt which flower they'll land on when there's loads around is difficult and looking through the viewfinder trying to capture them in flight is tricky to say the least!