You have to buy it 2nd hand. I recently bought one on here off mannesty, so have a look at that thread.

link

I don't know how fast it is compared to the Siggy, but Mike-P probably does. But, like I say, if you give it a bit of help it makes a big difference.

Here's one I took this morning with the combination on a K-r, ISO 400, f9, 1/500s. Cropped to 2200px long side.

I have the DA*300 and the Pentax x1.7 AF Adapter. Both fairly recently acquired. AF works pretty well. Now I've got used to them. It really speeds things up and stops the hunting if you give the combination a bit of a helping hand. If you focus fairly closely but on the far side of your object then AF will work quite quickly. It's all about learning the pros and cons of your lenses and working with them.

Yes, I know, live objects can move quickly, but stuey has given good examples of why AF isn't strictly necessary, but nice to have.

No, it doesn't.

Hi QC,

I understand the 1st part of that sentence but not the last part. Could you explain what you mean?

Congratulations, geordie!

Saw your photo on Tyne Tees News this evening!!

I'm rather with you on this one, David.

I had a DA17-70 which I bought as an upgrade to the kit lens. Then I bought a K28 f3.5 and, apart from the very wide end at which the 17-70 isn't brilliant, imho) I used the 28 and had an M50 and SuperTak 55 for the longer end. The 17-70 became hardly used.

I've now got a Sigma 10-20 for ultra wide, but my lens of choice is the K28, it's resolution on things like trees just blows the 17=70 apart...again, imho. It also has that lusive 3D quality which these old lenses have sometimes. So now I have a K55 as well, that's all sorted.

I don't value the "convenience" of autofocus above the image quality I can get with the K's. In fact, I reckon I take my time more with a manual lens and enjoy it more, but that may be just me.

And, very importantly, I sold my 17-70, which paid for the 28, the 55, and half the 10-20!!

Like Dr O said, I could easily use the K series, plus the DA*300, and plus my DFA 100. Er, which is almost what I'm doing!

Good choice!

Buy the DA*300mm and the Pentax AF x1.7 adapter. Then you have a 510mm f6.7.

Just a thought.

That really does work well.