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Comment by Clarky posted on DA* 300 (or others) Advice Needed at 03/05/2008 - 12:59
Quote:
Clarky,
In the UK (from SRS) the Sigma 100-300 is £759 and the DA* 300 is £899, so the difference is not enormous. Indeed the Sigma is more than the Bigma
How much better would the Sigma 100-300 be than my existing Sigma 75-300 :
Would I just be duplicating a zoom lens and only gaining autofocus :
Wow the Sigma price is surprising, I was going off e-bay prices. Clarky,
In the UK (from SRS) the Sigma 100-300 is £759 and the DA* 300 is £899, so the difference is not enormous. Indeed the Sigma is more than the Bigma
How much better would the Sigma 100-300 be than my existing Sigma 75-300 :
Would I just be duplicating a zoom lens and only gaining autofocus :
I don't own either lens and just going off reviews, but i would expect the DA*300 to be marginally better than the 100-300f4 and both to be significantly better that your old Sigma 75-300. But again i don't own this lens either. So i am not much help i'm afraid.
Comment by Clarky posted on DA* 300 (or others) Advice Needed at 13/04/2008 - 11:11
Quote:
With regard to Chirpy's question, wildlife and anything else, mainly at the long end that catches my attention.
In the summer, many photoraphs are taken form a moving boat, where the subject matter is almost always further away than would be ideal, so even with a 300mm lens, cropping is highly likely.
If I opted for a long prime, I would still have my old Sigma A 75-300 dating from the mid 1980's, which still works well but is obviously manual focus.
I have used the Sigma on the K10D and most images taken have been at the long end.
I am looking for the best possible quality of image (within reason) and I do not want to have to use a tripod (useless on a boat, but a monopod might work o.k.).
Anything longer than 400mm would be too long and indeed even 400mm may be optimistic for handheld
I think you have already decided so go get it. And good luck with your DA*300mm With regard to Chirpy's question, wildlife and anything else, mainly at the long end that catches my attention.
In the summer, many photoraphs are taken form a moving boat, where the subject matter is almost always further away than would be ideal, so even with a 300mm lens, cropping is highly likely.
If I opted for a long prime, I would still have my old Sigma A 75-300 dating from the mid 1980's, which still works well but is obviously manual focus.
I have used the Sigma on the K10D and most images taken have been at the long end.
I am looking for the best possible quality of image (within reason) and I do not want to have to use a tripod (useless on a boat, but a monopod might work o.k.).
Anything longer than 400mm would be too long and indeed even 400mm may be optimistic for handheld
Comment by Clarky posted on DA* 300 (or others) Advice Needed at 13/04/2008 - 10:56
Quote:
It seems likely that some unexpected funds will arrive that will enable me to buy (subject to OH approval) a lens
In an ideal world I would probably want a DA* 135-300 or a DA* 135-400.
Such beasts do not exist and the DA* 60-250 has an unknown arrival date (I don't believe the latest roadmap), overlaps too much with the DA* 50-135 and is slightly too short at the long end.
I had been thinking about Sigma zooms but now I am thinking more about the new Pentax long primes.
I have narrowed it down to :-
Pentax DA* 300 F.4 1070g 184mm long
Sigma EX 100-300 F.4 1440g 227mm long
Sigma 120-400 (not yet available) F4.5-5.6 1750g 203mm long
Pentax DA* 200 F2.8 825g 134mm
I do not want to be restricted to having to use a tripod or monopod and in this respect the two Pentax lenses are shorter and lighter.
I am tempted by the DA* 300, partly by the images taken with it that have been shown on this forum.
All comments gratefully received
Well i would go with either the DA* 300mm or the sigma 100-300f4 It seems likely that some unexpected funds will arrive that will enable me to buy (subject to OH approval) a lens
In an ideal world I would probably want a DA* 135-300 or a DA* 135-400.
Such beasts do not exist and the DA* 60-250 has an unknown arrival date (I don't believe the latest roadmap), overlaps too much with the DA* 50-135 and is slightly too short at the long end.
I had been thinking about Sigma zooms but now I am thinking more about the new Pentax long primes.
I have narrowed it down to :-
Pentax DA* 300 F.4 1070g 184mm long
Sigma EX 100-300 F.4 1440g 227mm long
Sigma 120-400 (not yet available) F4.5-5.6 1750g 203mm long
Pentax DA* 200 F2.8 825g 134mm
I do not want to be restricted to having to use a tripod or monopod and in this respect the two Pentax lenses are shorter and lighter.
I am tempted by the DA* 300, partly by the images taken with it that have been shown on this forum.
All comments gratefully received
You need to ask yourself which lens will you get the most bang for buck.
The DA* looks like a fantastic lens going by the pics Chirpy has been showing us lately and its a fairly good weight for a lens of this size.
But will you get as much use out of it in comparison to the Sigma 100-300.
This looks like it will compliment your 50-135* perfectly and its half the price of the 300mm. The only down side is the weight of the Sigma.
I don't think i have helped you all that much as i can't decide which of the 2 i would choose
You have an envious and difficult decision to make good luck
Comment by Clarky posted on DA* 300 (or others) Advice Needed at 13/04/2008 - 10:46
I like 2 and 3 also.
Is this windmill still operating :
Is this windmill still operating :
Comment by Clarky posted on Restored windmill at 12/04/2008 - 23:28
Mac
And i have decided not to sell the Tamron as its a bit of a rareity and i like the look and feel of it too much.
The wasps here don't build outer shells on thier nests Probably due to the milder climate i suspect.
Do you have a pic of a Canadian wasp nest. :
Dan.
I was called a spangled drongo in a pub once or was that a flamin drongo : i can't remember
Hefty.
And you are right about the bees, they never sit still for too long.
George.
Quote:
How does the Pentax compare to your Tamron?
Strange for me to see wasps build exposed cells before the outside shell. Maybe because I'm so used to paper wasps, mud daubers and ground wasps. Neat!
The Pentax is equally as good as the Tamron optically and is less than half the weight also How does the Pentax compare to your Tamron?
Strange for me to see wasps build exposed cells before the outside shell. Maybe because I'm so used to paper wasps, mud daubers and ground wasps. Neat!
And i have decided not to sell the Tamron as its a bit of a rareity and i like the look and feel of it too much.
The wasps here don't build outer shells on thier nests Probably due to the milder climate i suspect.
Do you have a pic of a Canadian wasp nest. :
Dan.
Quote:
By the way, Clarky, although this is a Western Australia site, you might be interested in this page: http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/icdb/imagelist.IDC
Thanks for the link i have bookmarked it. I can't get the Brisbane link to load up though : By the way, Clarky, although this is a Western Australia site, you might be interested in this page: http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/icdb/imagelist.IDC
I was called a spangled drongo in a pub once or was that a flamin drongo : i can't remember
Hefty.
Quote:
Excellent shots Clarky - I think #3 (moth) is my favourite but they're all very good. The bees are becoming more frequent in my garden now but I've not yet got a good shot of one, they just move too fast for my glacial reflexes...
The moth is my fav also Lots of them about at the moment. Excellent shots Clarky - I think #3 (moth) is my favourite but they're all very good. The bees are becoming more frequent in my garden now but I've not yet got a good shot of one, they just move too fast for my glacial reflexes...
And you are right about the bees, they never sit still for too long.
George.
Quote:
Unfortunately we can't see from the top whether this one lives up to its name:
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/images/C_longipennis.jpg
How did you find that George : Unfortunately we can't see from the top whether this one lives up to its name:
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/images/C_longipennis.jpg
Comment by Clarky posted on Some cute bugs from the garden :) at 12/04/2008 - 23:07
All taken with the Pentax D-FA100mm
A Bee
A spider
A moth
Not sure what this chap is called
A wasps nest
A Bee
A spider
A moth
Not sure what this chap is called
A wasps nest
Comment by Clarky posted on Some cute bugs from the garden :) at 12/04/2008 - 13:33
Quote:
simon
The NP-400 is a minolta battery which is identical to the Pentax. I have 2 of them and they last just as long as the original Pentax at a fraction of the price chirpy wrote:
The batteries are identical between the K10D and GX10.
Thanks for the confirmation - 7 Day shop here I come !!The batteries are identical between the K10D and GX10.
simon
Comment by Clarky posted on GX10 alternative/spare battery ? at 12/04/2008 - 12:04
Pete
I like the capture Is that its nest it is sitting on or is it raiding someone elses :
Is this a crop : and how close too it were you when you snapped it.
Just trying to get some perspective on the lens
I like the capture Is that its nest it is sitting on or is it raiding someone elses :
Is this a crop : and how close too it were you when you snapped it.
Just trying to get some perspective on the lens
Comment by Clarky posted on Sigma 180mm Macro EX DG - Sample Images at 12/04/2008 - 23:15
Quote:
I can't afford either of the available SMCP-A* 200mm macro lenses either
Whilst I don't use AF for macro work, it's useful as a telephoto lens so AF is a bonus, which the A* 200mm doesn't have of course.
My thoughts also I can't afford either of the available SMCP-A* 200mm macro lenses either
Whilst I don't use AF for macro work, it's useful as a telephoto lens so AF is a bonus, which the A* 200mm doesn't have of course.
I would like to be able too use it as a tele also, so AF is handy in that respect.
Comment by Clarky posted on Sigma 180mm Macro EX DG - Sample Images at 12/04/2008 - 00:02
Congrats to you both.
Hyram: I can't wait to see some of your 105 shots.