and Hi - it's me again! If SRS would be kind enough to let me have the DA* for another week for nothing I can go in the shop and prove it!! To clarify my Kenko is not new. I bought it used three years ago.It is the Pz-AF 1.5X Teleplus MC KENKO (in white) DG (in gold). It has 5 contacts, a gap then a 6th. Also 2 gold contacts on the inner ring. It does not say SHQ on it anywhere so there are clearly minor variants. I just put it on and it worked, albeit a bit slower. Not sure if it was using the screw drive or the HSM. Worked on the Sigma 150-500mm as well.
Hope this helps,
Dave

and Hi - it's me again! If SRS would be kind enough to let me have the DA* for another week for nothing I can go in the shop and prove it!! To clarify my Kenko is not new. I bought it used three years ago.It is the Pz-AF 1.5X Teleplus MC KENKO (in white) DG (in gold). It has 5 contacts, a gap then a 6th. I just put it on and it worked, albeit a bit slower. Not sure if it was using the screw drive or the HSM. Worked on the Sigma 150-500mm as well.
Hope this helps,
Dave

After 2-3 years of what I think is steady progress with my wildlife photography I am perhaps losing my obsession with sharpness. I have craved the DA*300mm, hired one and loved it. But to be honest in good light it's not a million miles different to the DAL 55-300 or the Sigma 150-500mm. I doubt the DA*300mm f4 + 1.7 tc will be sharper than either the above but certainly a nicer size than the latter.
I am trying to value composition and interest more than sharpness now.
Dave

Great shots Dave. I find the OS better than SR beyond 300mm but I use my lens for action sports also (kite surfing, wind surfing etc). Tracking with the OS on is better than with SR on. Getting an stabilized image in the viewer is worth something, SR won't give me that.[/quote]---------------
Thanks Eric. That could be a useful tip. I have had problem with birds in flight shots. Is that setting 1 or 2?

Well I have the 55-300 DAL, and the Sigma 150-500 OS version. Frankly I don't find the OS any better than the SR in the K-r body but as it's only £599 new you would struggle to get an old one a lot cheaper. Both of these work extremely well for wildlife:-
http://my.opera.com/dcweather/blog/
Scroll down don't go to gallery which are older.

I have also recently hired the DA* 300mm which I liked a lot. This worked well with the Kenko Teleplus 1.5 and with autofocus with my version. It was more compact and lighter than the Sigma, not enough opportunity to compare IQ but similar at 450mm I would think.
This friend of mine uses a K5 with the DA*300mm and 1.7 converter:-
http://uk_wildlife.500px.com/portfolio/#/0
Of all these combinations budget may effect the final decision the most!
Hope this helps,
Dave

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I'm completely with David on this. I've had the DAL for a couple of years and the plastic mount vs metal is a non-issue as far as I am concerned. It is a fantastic lens and while I accept the advantages sometimes of the quickshift, for me it is the only thing to consider bearing in mind the £100 price difference currently. ( I have both and am evaluating to decide which one to keep).

There is the Sigma above and recently I hired a DA* 300mm from SRS and found it worked well with my 1.5x Kenko teleconverter, including autofocus.

A lot of lenses at reasonable prices as well. The Adaptall 35-70mm looks a bargain, although they are always available but usually a bit more than that usually, I think.

I can now confirm mine does work with the DA* 300mm as well.
Exact Markings are:- Pz-AF 1.5X TELEPLUS MC..... KENKO....(in white) DG (in gold)

Personally I think the DAL or DA 55-300mm are excellent choices, depending on your budget, naturally. Optically the same and I have not had any problems with the plastic mount on the DAL. As third party hoods are readily available (DAL doesn't come with one) the main differential would be how much you are prepared to pay for the useful quickshift.