Tele zoom for K10

Thinking of a tele zoom lens for (outdoors and wildlife) travels with my K10D and I´m concidering these three alternatives:

FA 100-300
FA 80-320
FA J 75-300

Which one would you gor for? Or should I stick with my SMC Takumar 300/4?

// Mats

Have you also considered the SMC Pentax-DA 50-200mm, which is an ultra-compact and superb lens?

I would go for the FA 80-320mm as I have had some excellent results with mine. I think you would be disappointed, as I was, with the build quality of the cheaper FAJ 75-300mm.

Even if you did get the FA 80-320mm, don't get rid of your excellent 300mm unless you can replace it with an SMCP-A version.

I have no knowledge of the 100-300mm.

I second JR's suggestion. The 50-200 is very good, and you already have the Takumar for when you need 300mm.

G

I havn't used one either but Stan Halpin's site seems to suggest the 80-320 is better.

the 80-320 and 50-200 are both very good lenses for the money.

The 50-200 has manual focus override, a smoother zoom ring and a non-rotating front element. It is also smaller and lighter.

The 80-320 obviously has a little more reach at the long end, at 200mm it's faster (both are 4.5-5.6 lenses but the 80-320 is still 4.5 at 200mm) and its 8 aperture blades make for nice smooth out of focus regions. May or may not bother you but the 80-320 is also compatible with every K mount body (I've used mine on a K1000 once or twice) where the 50-200 is digital only.

Thanks for all the input friends!

Moongoose hit the nail´s head when bringing the analog issue up. I still have my KM and I´d like to be able to use my tele zoom "to be" on the old girl as well. In fact, I have quite a few SMC lenses but none of them are D-lenses.

As for the SMC Takumar, its a great lens. But a bit too tricky to shoot birds and stuff with, sa its a manual focusing lens that requires stop down metering.

Anybody who´s selling an F or FA 300* lens?......

// Mats

in that case you don't want the FAJ 75-300 either, it has no aperture ring so wont work in any useful fashion with your KM.

As I said the 80-320 is very happy on a K1000 so should work wonders on a KM. It's focus ring is rather loose by comparison to MF lenses, but it's useable.

Yes, I just figured out that the "J" lenses doesn´t have an aperture ring. So, that seems to leave me with the 80-320.

And now.......off to eBay....

Thanks again guys!

// Mats

The Sigma 70-300, 4-5.6 APO DG might be another option. I just recently got mine, so not many shots on the WEB, yet. Here's one using the macro option:


@ 105 mm, 1/125 s, A11, ISO 200, flash

Cheers,
Prieni

I haven't tried the Sigma DG version but I have the previous one, the 70-300 APO Macro Super. This was taken using it, just black and white points set and capture sharpening. The closeup is at 100%.




K10D, 70-300 @ 210mm, 1/400 f/11, ISO 200

Colin