fixed long lens
Posted 15/02/2016 - 20:05 - Helpful Comment
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Would your ideal lens be in the range of your current zoom or are you after something longer? Are you after a prime because that zoom is too heavy? If so, not all zooms are. Or is it that you want better, if not top notch quality?
The lens that comes to mind is a Pentax SMC DA* 300mm f/4 ED SDM, or perhaps the SMC Pentax-DA* 200mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM if you want something within the range of your present zoom. They're fairly pricey (and not particularly light, but great quality though.) The HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR is an alternative zoom lens with a good range and not particularly heavy (lighter than the two DA* primes.) Also worth considering is a Tamron or Pentax 18-250 (discontinued) or a Pentax 18-270 (also made by Tamron) which can be used as an everyday walk around lens, but with a good reach. Don't overlook the Pentax 50-200 f4-5.6 either, that's quite light and affordable. I appreciate some of those are not fixed length, but you really need to work out the focal length you would prefer if a prime is essential. Having already got a 75-260 to play with you should be able to workout what focal length would suit you best, and then work out what you can afford.
Some of the more affordable primes are the older M and K series primes from the film days. Some of these are manual focus, but we managed with them before autofocus was invented! As to what focal length, that is really something only you can decide.
The lens that comes to mind is a Pentax SMC DA* 300mm f/4 ED SDM, or perhaps the SMC Pentax-DA* 200mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM if you want something within the range of your present zoom. They're fairly pricey (and not particularly light, but great quality though.) The HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR is an alternative zoom lens with a good range and not particularly heavy (lighter than the two DA* primes.) Also worth considering is a Tamron or Pentax 18-250 (discontinued) or a Pentax 18-270 (also made by Tamron) which can be used as an everyday walk around lens, but with a good reach. Don't overlook the Pentax 50-200 f4-5.6 either, that's quite light and affordable. I appreciate some of those are not fixed length, but you really need to work out the focal length you would prefer if a prime is essential. Having already got a 75-260 to play with you should be able to workout what focal length would suit you best, and then work out what you can afford.
Some of the more affordable primes are the older M and K series primes from the film days. Some of these are manual focus, but we managed with them before autofocus was invented! As to what focal length, that is really something only you can decide.
John K
Posted 15/02/2016 - 20:29
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Thanks for your advice. Yes, I was looking for longer focal length. Slightly surprised the primes are heavier than the zooms. I don't mind manual focus (he says bravely). Is there a fixed lens around 400mm?
Posted 15/02/2016 - 20:57
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Sigma and Tokina made a 400 mm f5.6 about 20 years ago, these were replaced by 140-400 and 80-400 zooms respectively.
I have the Tokina and it was a good lens. For 3x as much there was the Pentax SMC FA*400 f5.6....very rare...alternatively there is the F* or FA* 300 f4.5 - still rare.
Lens weights are quite deceptive, the DA*300 is quite light, the Sigma 150-500 on the other hand is long and heavy (my new Nikkor 80-400 is lightweight in comparison)
In my opinion if you have around £600 change rattling around in your pocket the DA*300 might tick all your boxes
I have the Tokina and it was a good lens. For 3x as much there was the Pentax SMC FA*400 f5.6....very rare...alternatively there is the F* or FA* 300 f4.5 - still rare.
Lens weights are quite deceptive, the DA*300 is quite light, the Sigma 150-500 on the other hand is long and heavy (my new Nikkor 80-400 is lightweight in comparison)
In my opinion if you have around £600 change rattling around in your pocket the DA*300 might tick all your boxes
AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff
Posted 15/02/2016 - 21:12
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Those primes are faster = bigger heavier glass.
No current Pentax 400mm though there are some in the back catalogue (eg SMC Pentax-A 400mm F5.6.) The 300mm I mentioned will give you better images than a third rate 400mm that can be cropped. 400mm primes will normally be quite a bit heavier than I suspect your 75-260 is unless it has a very small maximum aperture. I suspect you find that images taken at full zoom on your present lens are not particularly sharp. Using the prime 300mm you'd be amazed at the difference!
If you want to go longer than the 300mm for a current Pentax lens then there is the Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW. But that's very specialist, more suitable for birding than bears. But you're looking for around £3K for it. Even a 400mm is still quite long and you may often wish it would zoom out a bit - tricky for a fixed lens!
Without spending a fortune, have a close look at the Pentax 55-300mm.
No current Pentax 400mm though there are some in the back catalogue (eg SMC Pentax-A 400mm F5.6.) The 300mm I mentioned will give you better images than a third rate 400mm that can be cropped. 400mm primes will normally be quite a bit heavier than I suspect your 75-260 is unless it has a very small maximum aperture. I suspect you find that images taken at full zoom on your present lens are not particularly sharp. Using the prime 300mm you'd be amazed at the difference!
If you want to go longer than the 300mm for a current Pentax lens then there is the Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW. But that's very specialist, more suitable for birding than bears. But you're looking for around £3K for it. Even a 400mm is still quite long and you may often wish it would zoom out a bit - tricky for a fixed lens!
Without spending a fortune, have a close look at the Pentax 55-300mm.
John K
Posted 15/02/2016 - 21:14
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a 300 with the option of a 1.4 converter may even be an option which will just give you that little extra
or even just the converter will give you more on your presant lenses which could mean an upgrade on your camera if you wanted
ps if you dont tell the othere half they wouldnt know
or even just the converter will give you more on your presant lenses which could mean an upgrade on your camera if you wanted
ps if you dont tell the othere half they wouldnt know
Posted 16/02/2016 - 00:06
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Thank you all.
Posted 16/02/2016 - 01:32
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There are several Takumar 300mm for sale at the moment on Ebay. It's not old - its ancient, preset and needs an M42 adapter but it's a stunning lens. The best way to use it is preset it to f22 and you can then twirl the aperture ring through the entire range with no click stops. You can stick the adapter in the front of a converter too but there's always a light loss penalty
Posted 16/02/2016 - 07:59
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The obvious choice for me would be to use the Pentax 55-300mm. Slightly longer, but much lighter as well. Couple that with the Pentax 1.4x converter and it makes an effective package with little weight.
Best regards, John
Posted 16/02/2016 - 18:17
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Have you tried this combination? I have been put off getting a 1.4x converter as I understood the lens attached needs an f4 aperture to operate which is outside the 55-300's range.
johnriley wrote:
The obvious choice for me would be to use the Pentax 55-300mm. Slightly longer, but much lighter as well. Couple that with the Pentax 1.4x converter and it makes an effective package with little weight.
The obvious choice for me would be to use the Pentax 55-300mm. Slightly longer, but much lighter as well. Couple that with the Pentax 1.4x converter and it makes an effective package with little weight.
Posted 16/02/2016 - 18:52
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grambuch wrote:
Thanks for your advice. Yes, I was looking for longer focal length. Slightly surprised the primes are heavier than the zooms. I don't mind manual focus (he says bravely). Is there a fixed lens around 400mm?
This has just been posted on Ebay ... if you don't mind manual focus then it may do you nicely.
Thanks for your advice. Yes, I was looking for longer focal length. Slightly surprised the primes are heavier than the zooms. I don't mind manual focus (he says bravely). Is there a fixed lens around 400mm?
Posted 16/02/2016 - 19:28
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RobL wrote:
Have you tried this combination? I have been put off getting a 1.4x converter as I understood the lens attached needs an f4 aperture to operate which is outside the 55-300's range.
Yes, and it works just fine. Sue uses this all the time for her birding shots and gets good results.
Have you tried this combination? I have been put off getting a 1.4x converter as I understood the lens attached needs an f4 aperture to operate which is outside the 55-300's range.
johnriley wrote:
The obvious choice for me would be to use the Pentax 55-300mm. Slightly longer, but much lighter as well. Couple that with the Pentax 1.4x converter and it makes an effective package with little weight.
The obvious choice for me would be to use the Pentax 55-300mm. Slightly longer, but much lighter as well. Couple that with the Pentax 1.4x converter and it makes an effective package with little weight.
Best regards, John
Posted 16/02/2016 - 19:54
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RobL wrote:
Have you tried this combination? I have been put off getting a 1.4x converter as I understood the lens attached needs an f4 aperture to operate which is outside the 55-300's range.
Pentax K-5IIs, HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR and 1.4x HD PENTAX-DA AF Rear Converter AW. AF is pretty iffy though.Have you tried this combination? I have been put off getting a 1.4x converter as I understood the lens attached needs an f4 aperture to operate which is outside the 55-300's range.
Great Tit by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr
Posted 16/02/2016 - 20:21 - Helpful Comment
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I haven't tried the 1.4x converter on my K-x
**The camera’s firmware must be updated to the latest version before using the autofocus function. Compatible camera bodies are: K-3, K-50, K-500, K-30, K-5 II, K-5 II s, K-5, K-01, K-7, and K-r.
http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk/en/product/37962/body/overview/Photo-Accessories....
**The camera’s firmware must be updated to the latest version before using the autofocus function. Compatible camera bodies are: K-3, K-50, K-500, K-30, K-5 II, K-5 II s, K-5, K-01, K-7, and K-r.
http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk/en/product/37962/body/overview/Photo-Accessories....
Posted 17/02/2016 - 12:38
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Thanks again
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