Frustrated over lack of Telephotos

I took up photography about 2 years ago starting with a *istDL2 and 18-55mm kit lens(bargain in Jessops), I got the bug and upgraded to the K10D when it was released. I soon expanded my lens collection but when I started leaning towards wildlife photography I realised I could have made a mistake picking Pentax over the brands, WHERE ARE ALL THE TELEPHOTO LENSES ?
I have invested in a Sigma 100-300EX F4 which is a good lens that I have had reasonable success with but am becoming increasingly frustrated with lack lack of choice in Long Prime lenses and can only admire the choice that our Nikon and Canon counterparts have.
I noticed that Pentax are planning to release a 300mm F4 prime lens is there any clues to when and how much it will be?

I use some of the older Pentax primes on my dSLRs. My favourite is probably the 300/4A* but other can be very good as well. As least with Pentax you can use the older lenses designed for MF (something which cannot be said for Canon ). The Sigma 400/5.6 comes up quite often and is a very good lens.

Kim

Yes Kim I've noticed a couple of the Sigma 400mm 5.6's(non-APO) on E-Bay but most of the reviews I've read and opions in Forums say you should go for the APO version, is this what you use?

I think so too, especially considering how small and light it is - very usable hand-held in fact. I have a manual focus one (not the APO one) in beautiful condition that is now surplus to requirements (on account of the fact that I have two other 400mm lenses - I can't justify keeping all three!!).

I was planning to eBay it at some point but forum folk are welcome to first refusal.

Thanks for the offer Chris but I think I'll save my pennies and hope I can afford the DA* 300mm F4 when it is released, is anyone brave enough to have a guess what sort of price it might go for, the Canon and Nikon equivelant go for £800-£900.

I used to use one of the Vivitar 400/5.6 lenses and was more than happy with the results. Some wildlife examples here:
http://pentax-manuals.com/gallery/gallery1.htm
http://pentax-manuals.com/gallery/gallery2.htm
http://pentax-manuals.com/gallery/gallery3.htm
http://pentax-manuals.com/gallery/gallery4.htm
http://pentax-manuals.com/gallery/gallery5.htm
http://pentax-manuals.com/gallery/gallery6.htm

I have the 1.7AF and the A series 2x convertor. With the 200/2.8A* and the 300/4A* these give me a 400/5.6 and a 600/8 with similar quality to the Vivitar and so it went. They also give me full AF capability similar to a 340 or 500 with the 1.7 AF convertor.

I think that the normal Sigma is a match for the Viv. On a dSLR with the crop factor, I would be wary of using a 400. The examples above were all stalked and handheld on film. I wouldn't want to handhold a 600. So if you indeed to use a hide, then a 400 could be good but otherwise I might be tempted with a 300.

Kim

I have the 1.7X converter and a Kenko 1.5X converter, I have had some success with these myself, ideally I would like the 300mm F2.8 but just can't afford one, would the new DA*300 F4 lens be compatible with the converters?
It's a mine field trying to decide what to go for, I think maybe I'm coming down with LBA

You'd think so, wouldn't you.

But unlike the Pentax SMC-A 400mm F5.6, which is optically better but much heavier and not as light to focus, the Sigma is very light to hold, yet not at all flimsy. I've used it handheld quite a bit with the K10D; the shake reduction compensates enough to make it very usable.

That's another reason why I like the 200/2.8A on the 2x adapter so much. It is a much lighter and easier rig to use than the old Vivitar 400.

Kim

Unfortunately this is one of the reasons I am selling my Pentax equipment and bought a Nikon D200. I am sorry to say to that it was the best decision I could have made.

I have had a long look at the Nikon DSLRs, and indeed the Canons, but the first thing I notice is the dreadful, poky little viewfinders.

In the case of the Nikon there is none of the Pentax elegance of design either. I am thinking of the fiddy AF/MF switch on the 50mm Nikkor, for example.

Of course, if long telephotos are what is needed, then at the moment it would IMHO have to be Nikon, unless of course a nice Pentax 400mm or longer lens came up second hand. There are Pentax long telephotos to be found, plus some interesting unusual zooms as well, but they are indeed very rare and very expensive.

The Pentax Imaging web site lists a number of long lenses.

Are any of them currently in production?

Whilst they are listed, if you click 'Buy Now' you'll not find them available for purchase.

Some of them certainly are. However, it is difficult to get a dealer outside of Japan to order them. It is a bit like the black ltd lenses, the LX special kits and some others which Pentax only made available in Japan. Certainly, I have seen a couple of Japanese dealers offering of the very long/fast lenses but it was in the regio0n of £4000+. The ultrafast Canons are probably a similar price but at least you can hire those for a special event.

Kim

I can take your point John and will add I think the K10D is a cracking camera with the built-in IS and auto-ISO it would make a good wildlife camera, however Pentax are losing customers because of lack of lenses at the longer range, especially primes, I can't understand why they've decided to launch a 18-250 Zoom when most of this range is covered by the 18-55 and 50-200 lenses already available, the 250mm end of the new lens will only be usable in very light conditions being F6.3, this makes it useless for most wildlife situations.
Lets hope Pentax decide to put this right and try and push through the launch of the new 300mm F4 , I only hope its not out of my price range.