pentax 150-450

Hi
I am seriously considering buying this lens.Can anyone who has one tell me how the focus on the actual lens works and if good too use I have a K3

I've used mine on the K5 and the K-1 and focusing is whisper quiet and snappy.

Hi John
Thanks, I have just purchased it from SRS via ebay, they had 2 on there still at Black Friday price, so I decided to take the plunge, soon as they are gone they will be £400 dearer.

Fantastic, hope you get some great shots with it. What sort of images are you aiming for first? Wildlife? Sport?

Its not a bad lens, can be hit or miss wide open in terms of sharpness. Not quite as sharp as the DA*300mm, but equals it with the 1.4x tele I reckon. The biggest issues I've had photographing wildlife is the Bokeh effect/out of focus areas are not as clean/nice as with the DA*300mm, and of course the sluggish Pentax AF which still isnt up to scratch on moving targets, even sometimes those not moving fast, but that is the body more than anything I reckon and the AF spots are too large and try to lock on to the background around a head small in the frame or the head around the eyes etc.

Hi John
Wildlife mainly as I live near to an estuary, I have the sigma 150-500 (which I will now sell) , but I find it needs really good light to perform well.

Neil, I have heard the bokeh is very good and it is a fast focussing lens ( I will soon find out).Haven't got the t/c yet perhaps in the new year.
I do agree though Pentax need to sort their slow focus issue.

Hi Roy,
I got mine in the Black Friday sales a year ago and not regretted it one bit. I use it on my K3-II and occasionally K30 and find the focussing is usually quick and accurate, particularly when using back button focussing. A fine lens.

Alan

Hi Alan
Thanks for that, never tried back button focus, must have a go.

I haven't used my DA 300 with or without the TC some I got mine. Think I've only had the 560mm out once too. The 150-450 is so much more convenient. I'm happy with the image quality too. Here's my latest on Flickr. On my mobile so just a link https://flic.kr/p/P6eViq

Hi Alan
Lovely images, I will be happy if I get the same quality

do they????

Hi Peter
Last night at 10pm they had 2 left I purchased 1 of them looks like the other sold as well. I hesitated and nearly left it, good job I took the plunge, sorry you missed out.