which lens
Posted 18/10/2012 - 00:47 - Helpful Comment
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I would go the 300 f4, if you want the extra length get a 1.4 converter, cant beat that DA 300 IMHO.
C&C welcome.
Don.
Don.
Posted 18/10/2012 - 07:09 - Helpful Comment
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A difficult question to answer. Both lenses have their advantages and disadvantages, with the Sigma your are not limited by a fixed focal length, although the DA* 300 is a very nice lens.
Personally I think until Pentax release the planned DA AF RC 1.4x, your options in terms of finding a good TC will be limited, so linking a TC to the DA* 300 could become an issue?
Taking a guess, are you looking at this lens for Bird Photography? Not an area i have a lot of experience with, but I think lens focal length wise, 500mm is a good starting point?
I do a fair amount of sports and action photography and I use the DA* 50 - 135mm and a DA* 200mm on two bodies. I really like both lenses and they cover and meet my needs.
OK, here is my answer to your question, personally I would buy the DA* 300, I think primes can be great when used for a specific type of shot, you just have to work a little harder in terms of thinking about the image.
Personally I think until Pentax release the planned DA AF RC 1.4x, your options in terms of finding a good TC will be limited, so linking a TC to the DA* 300 could become an issue?
Taking a guess, are you looking at this lens for Bird Photography? Not an area i have a lot of experience with, but I think lens focal length wise, 500mm is a good starting point?
I do a fair amount of sports and action photography and I use the DA* 50 - 135mm and a DA* 200mm on two bodies. I really like both lenses and they cover and meet my needs.
OK, here is my answer to your question, personally I would buy the DA* 300, I think primes can be great when used for a specific type of shot, you just have to work a little harder in terms of thinking about the image.
Fletcher8.
Posted 18/10/2012 - 09:09 - Helpful Comment
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The disadvantage of a zoom lens is that it has a range at which it excels, I don't know much about the Sigma zoom but I guess that like most zooms the image quality isn't as good at the fullest extent as further down the range....
whereas the DA*300 excels at 300, and also an F4, which means no issues if you add a converter, the Kenkos are very good.
whereas the DA*300 excels at 300, and also an F4, which means no issues if you add a converter, the Kenkos are very good.
AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff
Posted 18/10/2012 - 12:35
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ilovesaabs wrote:
The disadvantage of a zoom lens is that it has a range at which it excels, I don't know much about the Sigma zoom but I guess that like most zooms the image quality isn't as good at the fullest extent as further down the range....
The disadvantage of a zoom lens is that it has a range at which it excels, I don't know much about the Sigma zoom but I guess that like most zooms the image quality isn't as good at the fullest extent as further down the range....
I had one for a while and can confirm that it was noticably better at 120mm than 400mm. That said, I'm told the 150-500mm is a derivation of the same design yet is better at the long end.
Paul
Posted 18/10/2012 - 13:11
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ilovesaabs wrote:
The disadvantage of a zoom lens is that it has a range at which it excels, I don't know much about the Sigma zoom but I guess that like most zooms the image quality isn't as good at the fullest extent as further down the range....
whereas the DA*300 excels at 300, and also an F4, which means no issues if you add a converter, the Kenkos are very good.
The disadvantage of a zoom lens is that it has a range at which it excels, I don't know much about the Sigma zoom but I guess that like most zooms the image quality isn't as good at the fullest extent as further down the range....
whereas the DA*300 excels at 300, and also an F4, which means no issues if you add a converter, the Kenkos are very good.
Don't guess anything about lenses Some zooms such as the old Pentax 80-320mm gave the same performance throughout the range. Some such as the Pentax M 75-150mm were better at the telephoto end. Quite a few Tamrons were also better at the telephoto end.
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Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Posted 18/10/2012 - 14:55
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Algernon wrote:
Some such as the Pentax M 75-150mm were better at the telephoto end.
Some such as the Pentax M 75-150mm were better at the telephoto end.
Possibly slightly - but mine is pretty damned good everywhere!
Andrew
Posted 18/10/2012 - 17:22
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I'm talking about the lpmm resolution tests done by
Dr. Stewart Bell in AP years ago.
Generally a 50mm will be better than a 135mm or 200mm whether it's
primes or zooms.
This is a very good Tamron SP Adaptall that's better
at 80mm than at 35mm in terms of both resolution and
contrast.
http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/01A.html
and one that's the same throughout the range...
http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/30A.html
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Dr. Stewart Bell in AP years ago.
Generally a 50mm will be better than a 135mm or 200mm whether it's
primes or zooms.
This is a very good Tamron SP Adaptall that's better
at 80mm than at 35mm in terms of both resolution and
contrast.
http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/01A.html
and one that's the same throughout the range...
http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/30A.html
-
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Posted 18/10/2012 - 17:35 - Helpful Comment
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Sigma's 120-400 isn't their best lens whereas the Pentax DA*300 is a superb piece of glass. You could easily crop it to a 400mm FoV and it'd still be better than the Sigma.
http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
Posted 18/10/2012 - 22:14
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So if you're decided on the Pentax, better have a quick look at Leads to Deals. You will see a link to an offer at £585 - which will probably be quite short lived (if it's still there!)
Posted 18/10/2012 - 22:15
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ronniemac wrote:
So if you're decided on the Pentax, better have a quick look at Leads to Deals. You will see a link to an offer at £585 - which will probably be quite short lived (if it's still there!)
So if you're decided on the Pentax, better have a quick look at Leads to Deals. You will see a link to an offer at £585 - which will probably be quite short lived (if it's still there!)
Too late - now £987.....
Posted 18/10/2012 - 22:39
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Have gone for Amazon offer i have the 120-400 cant afford to keep both . Never had or held a* lens couldnt resist but one will have to go. My brother would buy 120-400 but we can not get it to autofocus on his gx20 even though firmware is up to date sure it should
Posted 19/10/2012 - 21:39
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whatsthisbuttondo wrote:
Have gone for Amazon offer i have the 120-400 cant afford to keep both . Never had or held a* lens couldnt resist but one will have to go. My brother would buy 120-400 but we can not get it to autofocus on his gx20 even though firmware is up to date sure it should
Have gone for Amazon offer i have the 120-400 cant afford to keep both . Never had or held a* lens couldnt resist but one will have to go. My brother would buy 120-400 but we can not get it to autofocus on his gx20 even though firmware is up to date sure it should
My Sigma 120-400 works fine on my GX10.
Regards,
Chris.
Posted 19/10/2012 - 21:49
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Well, smart move. You're not going to lose with a price like that.
Posted 20/10/2012 - 09:55
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Maybe the gx20 has a fault perfect in everything else, he also has gx10 also off me .My God hes doing well out of me, all the firmware for both is up to date will have to try it on gx10 but loathe to lose lens as i have found it great for wildlife
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