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Am I missing something? The two links above seem to be pointing to exactly the same lens with a £300 price difference. Picture is the same but product code is different. The first link shows £683-23 ?
Comment by dcweather posted on pentax smc d-fa 100mm f2.8 wr macro £379.00 at 20/05/2013 - 21:30
The good news if you can sift through it is everyone has pretty much given the same advice for a given price. Therfore your only decision really is how much you want to spend
Comment by dcweather posted on Newby with a question about lenses for wildlife at 10/05/2013 - 22:11
fatspider wrote:
If your wanting to shoot smaller garden birds then I would search ebay etc for a third party 400mm lens, preferably in KA mount which will give you automatic exposure, Sigma made a decent 400mm which comes up for sale every now and then, although your possibly looking at around £150+
As for teleconverters the Takumar 2x isn't too bad and can be found for around £25
-------------------------------------------If your wanting to shoot smaller garden birds then I would search ebay etc for a third party 400mm lens, preferably in KA mount which will give you automatic exposure, Sigma made a decent 400mm which comes up for sale every now and then, although your possibly looking at around £150+
As for teleconverters the Takumar 2x isn't too bad and can be found for around £25
For smaller garden birds with stealth, a greenhouse a shed or a bag hide you shouls be able to get to 10 feet!
Comment by dcweather posted on Newby with a question about lenses for wildlife at 10/05/2013 - 22:07
Toon49 wrote:
Thanks guys think I'm going to be on the lookout for the tamron 70-300 on here and eBay! Just anotjer stupid question which has probably been answered but so many lenses mentioned I'm confused haha. Would I need an adapter for this lens? Also when I search I presume I'm looking for a Pentax fit? And is this one manual focus? Thanks
----------------------------Thanks guys think I'm going to be on the lookout for the tamron 70-300 on here and eBay! Just anotjer stupid question which has probably been answered but so many lenses mentioned I'm confused haha. Would I need an adapter for this lens? Also when I search I presume I'm looking for a Pentax fit? And is this one manual focus? Thanks
Just make sure it is the Pentax K mount. They were made for other cameras as well. And, no, it is autofocus.
Comment by dcweather posted on Newby with a question about lenses for wildlife at 10/05/2013 - 22:05
gwing wrote:
If you fancy that Tamron 300 a much better bet would be to get one of the Tamron Adaptall2 SP 300mm 5.6 lenses. These are almost continuously available on ebay for about £70, are a nice high quality, reasonably light, manual lens and are a genuine macro lens as a plus.
You will need an adaptall pentax mount for it (unless the one you buy comes complete with pentax mount). These are cheap for the PK versions but hard to find and expensive for the much sought after PK/A adapters that provide more functionality.
My only reservation is that 300mm is only just long enough for birds and you will want more. If it is needed for wildlife a better option, still on the cheap, might be to get that Tamron 500mm mirror (even though it is no way as good as this 300) and then save up for the Pentax 55-300 later, which will give a very versatile but still not expensive outfit.
----------------------------------------------------------------If you fancy that Tamron 300 a much better bet would be to get one of the Tamron Adaptall2 SP 300mm 5.6 lenses. These are almost continuously available on ebay for about £70, are a nice high quality, reasonably light, manual lens and are a genuine macro lens as a plus.
You will need an adaptall pentax mount for it (unless the one you buy comes complete with pentax mount). These are cheap for the PK versions but hard to find and expensive for the much sought after PK/A adapters that provide more functionality.
My only reservation is that 300mm is only just long enough for birds and you will want more. If it is needed for wildlife a better option, still on the cheap, might be to get that Tamron 500mm mirror (even though it is no way as good as this 300) and then save up for the Pentax 55-300 later, which will give a very versatile but still not expensive outfit.
Agree generally but for a newbie the Tamron Sp 500mm is one hell of a learning curve from several aspects for wildlife. The manual focus is ultra critical and is best with catch-in-focus another new thing to learn. It is also more expensive used than a new Tamron 70-300 which is autofocus and dead easy to use. The DAL 55-300mm is only slightly more to buy used.
All I can add is I am a birder and wildlife photographer and did massive research and have been through most of the lenses mentioned - several Adaptalls, excellent Takumars etc and have come to the conclusion that from cheap to dear in sequence of purchase the best results from lenses have been:-
Tamron 70-300
Pentax 55-300
Sigma 150-500/ DA*300mm
In the end you just have to make a decision and learn from it but you certainly have plenty of advice!
Dave
Comment by dcweather posted on Newby with a question about lenses for wildlife at 09/05/2013 - 21:46
Toon49 wrote:
Thanks for all the advice guys think I'm going to go with a new lens. I've contacted the 2 classified adverts I also noticed this, would this lens be OK? http://m.preloved.co.uk/m/showadvert/107452994/300mm-f56-auto-tamron-prime-m42-l...
---------------------------Thanks for all the advice guys think I'm going to go with a new lens. I've contacted the 2 classified adverts I also noticed this, would this lens be OK? http://m.preloved.co.uk/m/showadvert/107452994/300mm-f56-auto-tamron-prime-m42-l...
I'd definitely give that one a miss.
Comment by dcweather posted on Newby with a question about lenses for wildlife at 09/05/2013 - 21:37
davidstorm wrote:
55-300 is great, but I've tried it with TC's and it doesn't seem to like them. IQ was poor and focussing dire. The siggy 150-500 is superb, but not very compact!
Regards
David
-----------------------------55-300 is great, but I've tried it with TC's and it doesn't seem to like them. IQ was poor and focussing dire. The siggy 150-500 is superb, but not very compact!
Regards
David
I can echo these findings exactly!
Algernon wrote:
long lenses you need to have good focusing technique. With the
55-300mm it's better set between 10M and INF before you start
and the target is better if it's got good contrast.
The Jessop MC 1.7x Pz/AF TC hardly effects the performance of this
lens and I'll be leaving it on my lens more or less permanently
from now on. It loses 1 to 1.3 stops which can be allowed for by
increasing the ISO.
I've also got the Sigma 150-500m, but it's far too heavy to lug any
distance and the DA*300mm is too restricted to the one view.
See https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/test---pentax-da-smc-55-300mm-f-4-5-8-ed-...#comm_457585
These two were from a few weeks back when the weather wasn't
as bight as it is today.
Rabbit K-5 400ISO
100% Crop
Blackbird K-5 800ISO
-
davidstorm wrote:
55-300 is great, but I've tried it with TC's and it doesn't seem to like them. IQ was poor and focussing dire. The siggy 150-500 is superb, but not very compact!
---------------------------------
These are very good Algernon. I've not been able to replicate anything like that with my Kenko 1.5X PZ AF although it works well on my DA*300.
Regards
David
Obviously it will only work with a TC that suits it and like all55-300 is great, but I've tried it with TC's and it doesn't seem to like them. IQ was poor and focussing dire. The siggy 150-500 is superb, but not very compact!
---------------------------------
These are very good Algernon. I've not been able to replicate anything like that with my Kenko 1.5X PZ AF although it works well on my DA*300.
Regards
David
long lenses you need to have good focusing technique. With the
55-300mm it's better set between 10M and INF before you start
and the target is better if it's got good contrast.
The Jessop MC 1.7x Pz/AF TC hardly effects the performance of this
lens and I'll be leaving it on my lens more or less permanently
from now on. It loses 1 to 1.3 stops which can be allowed for by
increasing the ISO.
I've also got the Sigma 150-500m, but it's far too heavy to lug any
distance and the DA*300mm is too restricted to the one view.
See https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/test---pentax-da-smc-55-300mm-f-4-5-8-ed-...#comm_457585
These two were from a few weeks back when the weather wasn't
as bight as it is today.
Rabbit K-5 400ISO
100% Crop
Blackbird K-5 800ISO
-
Comment by dcweather posted on Super telephoto zoom recommendation. at 08/05/2013 - 21:17
davidstorm wrote:
55-300 is great, but I've tried it with TC's and it doesn't seem to like them. IQ was poor and focussing dire. The siggy 150-500 is superb, but not very compact!
Regards
David
-----------------------------55-300 is great, but I've tried it with TC's and it doesn't seem to like them. IQ was poor and focussing dire. The siggy 150-500 is superb, but not very compact!
Regards
David
I can echo these findings exactly!
Comment by dcweather posted on Super telephoto zoom recommendation. at 08/05/2013 - 21:13
There are lots of us who start out like you. If you are strapped for cash the usual "buy the best you can afford" is always followed by an expensive suggestion, which of course is relative! I actually believe it is best to start cheap, learn the skills and progress. Second hand lenses hold their value well so you don't lose much as you progress. The best "cheap" starting option is often the Tamron 70-300mm macro zoom which can be picked up for under £100 and I imagine for £60-£70 on Ebay. It is a cracking starter lens for birds albeit with a little fieldcraft and luck. Also brilliant for Dragonflies and Butterflies. Next up I would try and get a Pentax DAL 55-300mm second hand for maybe £140. Ignore the stuff about the plastic mount which is fine and buy a cheap lens hood and you will get exceptional quality for the price. I agree the realistic next step would be the Sigma 150-500mm
To see what you might expect from the budget lenses look at the pre-2012 shots here:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcweather/sets/72157618004801757/
Dave
To see what you might expect from the budget lenses look at the pre-2012 shots here:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcweather/sets/72157618004801757/
Dave
Comment by dcweather posted on Newby with a question about lenses for wildlife at 08/05/2013 - 21:09
Hi Alan, nice shots and food for thought. Neil is a friend of mine so we will both be on the case as we both have the DA* 300. Never really thought of the SR as a disadvantage but I can see it could be.
Thanks, Dave.
P.S. - I've had a bag hide for some time which just screws up in a rucksack. Works pretty well and I've used it successfully with a Kingfisher down to 10 foot!
Thanks, Dave.
P.S. - I've had a bag hide for some time which just screws up in a rucksack. Works pretty well and I've used it successfully with a Kingfisher down to 10 foot!
Comment by dcweather posted on A few with the DA*300 @ f4 at 08/05/2013 - 20:43
