Lens for wildlife

Hi Group,
I own a Pentax K100d, and I want to buy a really good affordable lens for wildlife pictures clarity is an important factor, along with speed.
So what do you think, any make as long as it's a K fit.
Any advice most welcome.
Paul

i use the tamron 70-300 a lot. i've also got a Tamron 500 mirror lens, but it's not very fast (f, but i like it.

i guess a lot will depend on what type of wildlife. i was taking pictures of lizards last weekend using the 10-17.

if you've got a 400 already you should be able to get close shots with that. looking at your kit list you seem to have a good range.

if you can afford it the pentax da* 300mm is a cracker or maybe the sigma 50-500mm or 150-500mm or the Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro, all are quality lenses

around what price are you thinking?

and the chance of a second mortgage to pay for any of these is about as probable as knitting fog!!

Seriously, I found the Tamron 70-300 clear and sharp on my K110d, which is the same sensor as your K100d.

But on a 10 meg I can't get it to work as well, so I'm watching this thread with interest.

the tamron 70-300mm is a great lens i have one, but does suffer from purple fringing, and he did say bird photos, other than that its great,
and he also has a tamron 200-400mm so why go for a 70-300mm

I wasn't suggesting he goes for a Tamron, he has the Sigma version anyway!

Like you, Scott, I can't see a reason to get a bigger lens as Paul already has a Tamron 200-400.

I'm just interested in what others would recommend!

Other than a solid tripod to cut camera shake that is.

i agree with what you say hardgravity defo, and i also cant wait to see what people say im very happy with my 170-500mm sigma,

sorry but would be nice to know what kind money you got

But he also wanted a faster lens.
Maybe a FA* 600mm F4, you can special order them with pentax if you want one

There's also a FA* 250-600mm F5.6 but that one isn't in production anymore.

The 600mm will cost you around $5,600.00 and the 250-600mm $7,400.00.

The Tamron 200-400mm is a fine lens for wildlife, simply mose the iso up too 400 and stopdown the lens a bit and it will do more then fine.
Most members use something like your Sigma 70-300 for wildlife.

Very nice but silly money, if I bought one of these the present Mrs Collins would be off, I find the Tamron 100~400 akward to use, however I've not used a tripod with it yet, and I know I should, I've tended to use a fast shutter speed,, a fast lens would be nice however, far to much money, Ok all those kind enough to answer ,maybe the answer is to beat the 100~400 into submission, by the way Scottie , your taking some fantastic pictures.
Paul

thanks paul, is your tamron a 100-400mm or 200-400mm and also what weight is it have you tried a monopod, and i must say your photos are very good to,

Paul,
Amin is posting a lot of shots from the DA* 300mm with a pentax TC 1.7X converter in the my photo section here, maybe that's something for you?
The TC will drop the F4 to something like F5.6 or a bit more I believe but that lens is quite sharp wide open and with the 1.7 TC it gets a length of 510mm. It's also a lot more handable then those large zoom lenses.

A monopod will also do the trick and you will be a bit more mobile if you need it, although it isn't as stable as a tripod.

edit: Scottie beats me too it with the monopod

200~400mm aperture 6.3~32 it's around 34cm closed up and 45cm extended, it's quite heavy, I have a mono pod , I'll try both at the weekend and post a picture.Thank you for your kind comments , I'm learning and admit to it, it's all a mystery.My tamron has two aperture rings one seems to have clicks places between32, 6.3 ,then the inner one has the same markings but seem to be variablein respect of the outer rings settings so if I set the outer ring to say F11, the inner ring goes between F11 & F6.3.
Paul

OK Stefan I'll give it a look,I am pleased with my Sigma 70~300mm it doesn't seem to suffer the purple fringing thankfully.
Paul

can you post a pick of the tamron paul, also is the sigma the apo version.
i use a sigma 170-500mm aspherical apo, and love it. i got it of a forum member mr bug for £330 and love it, it weight nearly 1.4kg which i hand hold,