Pentax 150-450 tips and tricks
Posted 27/11/2024 - 08:31 - Helpful Comment
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The are a number of reviews available which details the features and how to use of various functions (https://www.pentaxuser.com/review/hd-pentax-fa-150-450mm-f-4-5-5-6-ed-dc-aw-lens-review-889)
Personally I find the switch, which limits the focus range the most useful.
Personally I find the switch, which limits the focus range the most useful.
Posted 27/11/2024 - 09:11
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stevejcoe wrote:
The are a number of reviews available which details the features and how to use of various functions (https://www.pentaxuser.com/review/hd-pentax-fa-150-450mm-f-4-5-5-6-ed-dc-aw-lens-review-889)
Personally I find the switch, which limits the focus range the most useful.
The are a number of reviews available which details the features and how to use of various functions (https://www.pentaxuser.com/review/hd-pentax-fa-150-450mm-f-4-5-5-6-ed-dc-aw-lens-review-889)
Personally I find the switch, which limits the focus range the most useful.
Thanks for that Steve a very thorough review which is very complementary about the lens. Although it doesn’t mention the on lens focus buttons or the preset switch and button. Are they of any use to you in the real world?
I can see me using the focus range switch it could be very handy if you can be sure the subject will be in that range but I find birds don’t always follow that rule and catch me out by appearing from nowhere.
Posted 27/11/2024 - 09:27 - Helpful Comment
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I used the preset in conjunction with the on focus buttons on several occasions during a trip earlier in the year to Canada. I was on a stationary boat taking pictures of bears on the shoreline, who were about 60 yards away. The technique was also useful in capturing bold eagles flying to and from their eyrie. They flew a quite consistent route and passed within 50 yards of our hotel balcony.
As you say birds can appear from anywhere, especially the smaller species.
Regards -Steve
As you say birds can appear from anywhere, especially the smaller species.
Regards -Steve
Posted 27/11/2024 - 13:14 - Helpful Comment
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Set desired shutter speed and aperture, point in general direction of subject....
Then press button, and et voilà....
Time to run and hide...
Then press button, and et voilà....
Time to run and hide...
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
Posted 27/11/2024 - 18:09
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Spad wrote:
Set desired shutter speed and aperture, point in general direction of subject....
Then press button, and et voilà....
Time to run and hide...
Set desired shutter speed and aperture, point in general direction of subject....
Then press button, and et voilà....
Time to run and hide...
That sounds good to me, all these bells and whistles take to long, by the time your ready to take the shot the bird you were watching has migrated back to Africa
Posted 27/11/2024 - 23:29 - Helpful Comment
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Birds are erratic!!
A lot of times, all i get is a bit of wing or tail.... or its out of focus!
A lot of times, all i get is a bit of wing or tail.... or its out of focus!
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
Posted 28/11/2024 - 10:13 - Helpful Comment
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Its my go to wildlife lens hooked to a K3iii, settings wise, the limiter is set to full and the QFS is set to A, I don't use the preset so that's at AF cancel.
The smaller the bird the trickier they are, particularly in flight but they are very doable with practice, I generally use it wide open.
The smaller the bird the trickier they are, particularly in flight but they are very doable with practice, I generally use it wide open.
Chris
www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk
" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".
-------------------------------------------------------------
K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8
Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8, Pentax A 50mm F1.2
K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM
www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk
" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".
-------------------------------------------------------------
K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8
Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8, Pentax A 50mm F1.2
K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM
Posted 28/11/2024 - 19:12 - Helpful Comment
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I have taken many thousands of shots on this lens. The easiest mistake to make is to have the focus limiter of 6m to infinity, forget about it and then start trying to shoot something close. I thought my lens was faulty as I could not acquire focus, until I realised.
I use none of the buttons on the lens. I have never used the preset focus feature.
Basically I set the camera to 500th. Have the lens wide open and let the camera determing the ISO. Image quality wise it's stunning.
Don't forget that heat haze over a distance can play havoc with sharpness. You get a water colour effect. I have shot a lot in Africa, and distance shots over hot ground have a very weird look.
I use none of the buttons on the lens. I have never used the preset focus feature.
Basically I set the camera to 500th. Have the lens wide open and let the camera determing the ISO. Image quality wise it's stunning.
Don't forget that heat haze over a distance can play havoc with sharpness. You get a water colour effect. I have shot a lot in Africa, and distance shots over hot ground have a very weird look.
K3iii, K3ii, K-5, K-x, DA150-450mm, DA16-85WR, DA16-45, DA18-55WR, DA18-135WR, DA35 F2.4, M100mm F4 Macro, DA55-300mm, FA50mm 1.4, AF360 Flash, AF540 Flash
Posted 28/11/2024 - 22:35
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As always thanks to everyone. My normal camera setting was TAv with 1/500sec shutter and aperture as wide as possible. Recently I tried shutter speeds of up to 1/800sec but as Gavin says all that happens is the ISO goes up so any sharpness gained by higher shutter speeds is totally lost due to image noise. Thanks again everyone all I need now is some nice bright skies and birds to fly very very slowly.
Oh and thanks Chris I hadnt realised the AF cancel only stops the lens AF buttons from working. Those buttons have annoyed me when I catch them accidently. David
Oh and thanks Chris I hadnt realised the AF cancel only stops the lens AF buttons from working. Those buttons have annoyed me when I catch them accidently. David
Posted 29/11/2024 - 10:55
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davidrobinson wrote:
Recently I tried shutter speeds of up to 1/800sec but as Gavin says all that happens is the ISO goes up so any sharpness gained by higher shutter speeds is totally lost due to image noise.
Recently I tried shutter speeds of up to 1/800sec but as Gavin says all that happens is the ISO goes up so any sharpness gained by higher shutter speeds is totally lost due to image noise.
The heron in flight was shot at 450mm, 1/400 sec at 100 ISO whilst the robin in flight was again 450mm, 1/1250 sec and 1600 ISO both shots were handheld, both are sharp and to my eyes the robin doesn't show much noise
I don't tent to use auto ISO preferring to generally keep it close to 100 as poss unless conditions dictate a higher setting, I'm reasonable at handholding down to fairly lowish shutter speeds ( at least 1/200 sec @ 450mm with this lens )
Chris
www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk
" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".
-------------------------------------------------------------
K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8
Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8, Pentax A 50mm F1.2
K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM
www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk
" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".
-------------------------------------------------------------
K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8
Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8, Pentax A 50mm F1.2
K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM
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