There has been some commentary regarding the demise of Olympus which touched on format and physical size of different systems.

• For me size matters;

Like many I waited so long for Pentax full frame, when it came out I bought everything available - K1 + grip, 15-30, 28-105,70-200, 24-70; 100macro and 150-450.

To get the kit on vacation or for a few days shooting somewhere I bought the wonderful Peak Design Messenger 15 bag

I am by no means a weak or unfit man ( competing veteran athlete and outdoor nut) but I can’t carry that bag for more than 20 mins over hilly terrain even if I am just lugging the K1, 15-40, 24-70 and the monstrous 70-200.

Even a ramble with just the body and grip, the 24-70 and one other lens is not a not joyous dayout.

If I am out doing wild life, I have a custom back pack to take the body, 100macro and 150-450; even so, a full day on somewhere like Skomer becomes a tough day with that backpack and the FF body

End result: I hardly ever use them

Conversely a day out with a small Havana bag, a K3ll, 15mm, 18-135 and a 55-300 PLM is a pleasure.

Moral of the story: size does matter.

Anyone interested; there's a full frame kit, most of it in virtually unused condition; indeed some of it actually unused.

I would be open to fair offers on the FF gear apart from the 100macro and the 150-450 which I will keep for the new APSC body.

Clearly there would be a price advantage if buying sthe K1 + grip, 15-30, 28-105,70-200, 24-70 as a package.

Similarly I would also sell the 15-30, 28-105,70-200, as a package of DFA lenses

If it doesn’t all go, I would hang on to the camera and the 24-50

I am trying not to be a left with a lens I won’t use if I let the body go

If anyone is interested PM me

I love the 150-400, it is a superb tool for the price; I am using a more expensive Nikon Tele zoom on my D500 which is super (on the D500).

However, if the new Pentax APSC body coming out this year can focus and track anything like the Nikon D500 then I will die a happy man and sell the Nikon kit.

the Pentax 150-450 is a beautiful lens and on everything except fast moving , small wildlife subjects Produces much nicer IQ (contrast, sharpness and colour rendition. In my opinion.

Nice images Gareth- definitely a great lens in the right hands ( ie yours)

Sold mine to get the Full frame HD DFA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW; not totally enamoured with the Big lens;

a) pitched against some of the A* Star zooms ( not just the 60-250) it is only “there or there abouts”

b) Another drawback; it is like carrying a Ten Pin Bowling ball about.

Interestingly I have some images from a very controlled trial using my K3II body, comparing the DFA 70-200 f2.8 against the modest little DA 18-135 (1/6th of the price).

I did it to see if the DFA was bringing an improvement over a modest but highly respected DA zoom thus reflecting its price.

Taking images at various focal lengths from 70mm up to 130mm - stopped down to 2 f stops above wide open and then at f8, f11, f16.

You had to look very hard to see a difference at the optimum f stops and mid zoom comparisons,

I suspect the A* 50-135 and 60-250 would have been better at some comparative settings Considering the little DA18-135 was definitely not to shabby.

Using the latest DA 55-300 (Plm) I think this little gem would not be overshadowed very much by the big DFA 70-200 either.

Anyway I wish I had not let that 60-250 go for sure

Contact Pramath
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Did 5 DA* SDMs for me with latest motors

Prompt turnaround and very economical compared to others.

Lenses were transformed; much faster and totally reliable. Standing the test if time and heavy use.

DA* 300 mm - 97/100
DA* 200mm - 99/100
D FA HD 150mm - 450 mm - 97/100
DA 18-135mm Al IF Ed DC - 93/100
DA 55-300 HD DA PLM WR - 98/100

ALL IRREPLACEABLE

I have owned all the SDM (DA*) lenses and still have the 200mm and 300mm

1. I had SDM problem with the 16-50 eventually changing the motor .

2, I had the 50-135 replaced twice (once in the UK and once in the States), BUT to no avail the second replacement failed within a year - They all simply played up very early) on before failing. (changed SDM)

3. 60-250 was identical - unreliable from Day 1 before failing totally (Changed SDM )

4. 300 mm failed - but was a well used and a superb optic - Changed SDM after 4 years (still have it - wouldn't part with it until I have completed my gradual move to NIKON,

5, The 200 mm has never failed and is simply a superb optic (like the 300mm), however as I had several SDM's being changed at Brentford Radio Control Models for 50% less than the Pentax approved repairers wanted - I went ahead and put a new SDM in the 200.

Why do we bother is a good question but the answer is not so clear:

I take care of all my equipment which in general could be described as in perfect condition (as anyone who has bought items off me can vouch for) but I have had problems with the Silver Edition K3 when it came out and also the K1

I waited for so long for a Pentax full frame so when the K1 I bought the camera came out I bought all the new Lenses - The Autofocus Block needed replacing on the K1 after 3000 actuations

I started out with Pentax 50 years ago when the brand was #1 and the iconic bodies were literally "Rolls Royce quality "supplemented by literally a multitude of pro Lenses - It all changed with the advent of Digital SLRs.

The K10 D and K20D were "solid" good tools, as were the K5 and K7 which induced me to increasingly to a battery of premium lenses and accessories but my second K3 totally failed after six months and the K1 also failed . ( my K3 II is a rock by the way)

Frankly speaking I really am struggling to persevere with the brand as I see no real evolution strategy that will provide us with cameras like the Nikon D500, which is modestly priced and outperforms cameras five times the price.

Because I have so much Pentax glass I am waiting for the next iteration of the K3 II which we are being led to believe will have similar AF performance to the Nikon D500 - if that turns out to be BS then I will sell off all my Pentax gear and fully move to Nikon.

I already have a Nikon D500 (bought 2nd hand) it is remarkable as regards Autofocus and continuous tracking etc but I must say the available and affordable big zooms are not as good as the Pentax 150-450 HD D-FA F4 I use it on the K3 II and occasionally the K1 - on either the image quality is amazing but the AF on the cameras is at best pedestrian and at worst unusable in some fast action shooting.

What price did you have in mind Barry

Super IQ - would we have known the converter was deployed ??

Honestly I wouldn't

I agree no negatives and mine was well used