I wish I had a pound for everytime I've been misled by user ratings of lenses. Case of garbage in garbage out I'm afraid Also the more they pay for a lens the more points they give it

My Old Aunt Agnes used to have a Kodak 126 Instamatic and she used to say it took absolutely brilliant photographs every bit as good as what a professional would do. 10/10 in her mind.

Joking aside the above ratings are understandable. The 80-320 is an old model and was replaced by the 55-300 which is a very good replacement. I'm suprised the Sigma APO is so highly rated I've got the AP test report here in front of me and at 300mm f/8 it couldn't even manage 100lpmm. The Tamron looks better getting 120lpmm at f/8 but I saw some recent MTF tests of that and the Sigma and at 300mm they were both poor. The Tamron's also famous for purple fringing, which would make me rate it at about 3. They both scored 21/30 on the AP test.

The only problem I have with the 55-300mm is that it isn't as good as the 80-320mm for MF. I still use the 55-300mm though. If I could buy a Brand New 80-320mm I would.

I was just going to say I didn't realize that a sparrow had such good colouring when I saw the filename and it's a Spanish one

It's nice and sharp though and the bokeh is quite acceptable. Depending on the shot that lens is capable of outstanding bokeh, also very good in poor light.

The f/2.8 is very conservative. It might have been to do with the earlier SFX AF sensor not being as sensitive as digital stuff. I've used the 1.7x and 1.4x on a 55-300mm at f/5.8 without problems.

Customs and Circumcise..... I think

I have mentioned on other posts on here that the power ratios on the AFT200T are spot on checked against a 1/3 stop Shepherd flash meter. Most flashguns aren't usually that accurate.

AF200T's are about the best little flashgun you can buy. Variable manual output etc. Put it on a small slave flash cube on a really small tripod and you can use it anywhere. Keep an eye out on ebay for the AFT 1 telephoto attachment.... just put some diffusion material on it for a softer flash... clips on and off the flashgun.

You must have had a bad copy of the 80-320mm. Officially and I mean from published tests it was one of the best lenses Pentax ever made. Pity it wasn't a bit more robust and you don't get purple fringing with it like you do with the Tamron 70-300mm.

Surely it would be worse if someone went into a park and attacked a child rather that took a photo? I've never yet heard of a council banning adults from going into a park which would be safer than just banning adults with cameras. Is it that they don't want to look silly?

What about adults with dogs? I would assume pedos have dogs and even if the owner isn't a pedo the dog could be dangerous..... but still not banned.... only if they have a camera.

Received this morning and I'd just like to thank Reuben0 for doing such a good job packaging the lens up and posting so quickly. Box, lens, case, manual all in immaculate hardly used condition.

Looks like my 300mm F* f/4.5 will now shortly be going up for sale.

1.7x and 2.0x are just notional values and the TC's are from
different makers. I've already mentioned that in another thread today.