Pentax DFA 150-450 + DA1.4x Combination

Had a try today combining the 150-450 and the Pentax 1.4x converter on my K5-lls and I'm quite pleased with it.
To me it's certainly better than when I tried the converter with the Sigma 150-500.
I'd like to know what other people think, in case I'm just getting carried away!!

All taken in TAv mode, spot metering, -0.7EV, either hand held or bean bag rest.

1/200 f8 ISO1000 630mm & cropped



1/320 f8 ISO1600 630mm



1/160 f8 ISO640 630mm



1/160 f9 ISO1250 630mm



1/160 f9 ISO 2000 532mm

They're not bad in terms of sharpness, but IMHO the shutter speeds you are using are far too low. It's not so much a matter of camera movement as subject movement and this is taking the edge off the sharpness.

I would be looking at a shutter speed of at least 1/1000sec if at all possible.

Lovely set Barrie, bet your a happy chap today!
The run out last week was worth it.
Sorry I could not make it today.

Thanks for the comments.

You are correct John, fast shutter speeds do help freeze these small birds, but I don't think the light in this instance would have allowed me any where near 1/1000 shutter speeds. The lens was wide open and the ISO ranged from 500 to 3200

These are very good but how do they compare with closer cropping without the 1.4x teleconverter?

It's hard to say because of differing distances to the subject.

Here is the lens on it's own, original and cropped.






Then at 450 & 630, but no cropping. I think the feeder and the branch were around the same area.

Thanks Barrie, you are very fortunate with the birdlife you get! It's just that I took two pics of a wagtail recently, one with a 100mm macro which happened to be on the camera, and a 55-300mm at 300mm. Zooming in on the back of the camera so the bird looked the same size the 100mm version looked sharper, probably because I hadn't adjusted the exposure setting. I guess if the light is good and you can get a steady grip the 1.4x is worthwhile.

I hadn't adjusted the exposure setting. I guess if the light is good and you can