All Forum Comments
A weekend 'Bump' for this and I'll knock a fiver off so 55 now.
Comment by Frogfish posted on FS: Pentax F 28-80 / 3.5-4.5 macro at 04/03/2011 - 10:25
I would be very surprised Dave if you couldn't hold a 120-400 to the quality of the shot posted
I have had the Pentax 80-320, the Tamron 70-300 and then the Pentax 55-300 before i bought the Pentax DA*300 yesterday. Today I went birding and the difference is amazing, I can crop 1:1 shots from the *300 and still get quality as good as, or very close to, uncropped shots from the 55-300. However look at the price difference - I'd be very disappointed if I couldn't ! And even at well over 1kg I didn't find it too heavy to hand hold shots - I think the 120-400 is a similar weight - neither of them are 150-500 or 50-500 monsters !
IQ wise the 120-400 falls somewhat in between, as it's price would indicate, but closer in quality to the *300 than the 55-300. It really depends on you and how 'serious' you are with regard to your birding. If you know this is not a whim and you are going to be 'relatively' serious about it - then I'd save your money and go for the 120-400.
Experienced photographers will always tell you 'buy the best glass you can afford rather than the best camera you can afford' and there's a reason for that. If I'd listened to that good advice when given instead of going through 4 lenses to get where I wanted to be when I started then I'd have saved a few hundred and in the interim have got some brilliant shots instead of some 'meh' shots lost because the lenses I was using couldn't resolve fine detail from the distance I was shooting at.
The 55-300 is a great bit of kit for the money (as is the Tamron - though not quite at the 55-300 level) but doesn't do too well cropping. The depth of resolution is just not there.
IMHO if you are not sure what you want then get a used Tamron (60 - 75 GBP) or used DAL version of the 55-300, that way you won't lose much (if anything ) when you come to upgrade, and upgrade you will if you are really into birding. If you are already sure - then get the 120-400, I've seen some great shots posted from it across the different fora.
I have had the Pentax 80-320, the Tamron 70-300 and then the Pentax 55-300 before i bought the Pentax DA*300 yesterday. Today I went birding and the difference is amazing, I can crop 1:1 shots from the *300 and still get quality as good as, or very close to, uncropped shots from the 55-300. However look at the price difference - I'd be very disappointed if I couldn't ! And even at well over 1kg I didn't find it too heavy to hand hold shots - I think the 120-400 is a similar weight - neither of them are 150-500 or 50-500 monsters !
IQ wise the 120-400 falls somewhat in between, as it's price would indicate, but closer in quality to the *300 than the 55-300. It really depends on you and how 'serious' you are with regard to your birding. If you know this is not a whim and you are going to be 'relatively' serious about it - then I'd save your money and go for the 120-400.
Experienced photographers will always tell you 'buy the best glass you can afford rather than the best camera you can afford' and there's a reason for that. If I'd listened to that good advice when given instead of going through 4 lenses to get where I wanted to be when I started then I'd have saved a few hundred and in the interim have got some brilliant shots instead of some 'meh' shots lost because the lenses I was using couldn't resolve fine detail from the distance I was shooting at.
The 55-300 is a great bit of kit for the money (as is the Tamron - though not quite at the 55-300 level) but doesn't do too well cropping. The depth of resolution is just not there.
IMHO if you are not sure what you want then get a used Tamron (60 - 75 GBP) or used DAL version of the 55-300, that way you won't lose much (if anything ) when you come to upgrade, and upgrade you will if you are really into birding. If you are already sure - then get the 120-400, I've seen some great shots posted from it across the different fora.
Comment by Frogfish posted on DA 55-300 or sigma 120-400 at 04/03/2011 - 10:17
johnriley wrote:
Yes indeed, payments can be reversed, although I'm not sure about gifts. In any event buying items and paying by eBay gift is contrary to their terms and conditions.
If it's local area, what's wrong with cash?
The buyer doesn't say anything about EBay .... so maybe the OP could clarify ?Yes indeed, payments can be reversed, although I'm not sure about gifts. In any event buying items and paying by eBay gift is contrary to their terms and conditions.
If it's local area, what's wrong with cash?
I use PayPal for a number of billings that have nothing whatsoever to do with EBay. If payment is made as a Gift through PayPal I don't think that's reversible ... but I may be wrong, just that I've never had anyone reverse one.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Need advice on Paypal Gift Payment at 04/03/2011 - 09:52
Yes - that is a nice shot Dave.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Its my turn at 03/03/2011 - 18:51
Dr. Mhuni wrote:
Boeforce - SRS definitely do give VAT refunds if you're exporting the goods out of the EU. You get your VAT form stamped at the airport and send this to them and they process the refund.
Frogfish - don't bank on getting all your VAT back. Most retailers use some third party administrator to process the refunds which results in your receiving only around 10% of the VAT. Used to be much more than this on bigger purchases, but the amount now is immaterial and you always end up with around 10%.
Happily (though not for you as the Sigma is at Ffordes) SRS do not use the third party admin, but do it themselves and do refund the full amount. Yet another reason to shop at SRS.
Happily Ffordes do the VAT deductions themselves. I've been in conversation with them and have bought a 50-150 for 400 less the VAT though I do have to pay the DHL cost (to HK). Great deal as it's well under 400 in total !Boeforce - SRS definitely do give VAT refunds if you're exporting the goods out of the EU. You get your VAT form stamped at the airport and send this to them and they process the refund.
Frogfish - don't bank on getting all your VAT back. Most retailers use some third party administrator to process the refunds which results in your receiving only around 10% of the VAT. Used to be much more than this on bigger purchases, but the amount now is immaterial and you always end up with around 10%.
Happily (though not for you as the Sigma is at Ffordes) SRS do not use the third party admin, but do it themselves and do refund the full amount. Yet another reason to shop at SRS.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Sigma 50-150 and 1.4x converter at 03/03/2011 - 13:59
I've got one and tried it with the AFA .... very so-so. I think i've ditched the test shots, if I haven't I'll post a few but I've just had a clean out so can't guarantee they are still around.
It's very heavy lense - all metal construction of course. OK by itself but nothing to write home about. If I remember correctly even the 55-300 out-performs it.
It's very heavy lense - all metal construction of course. OK by itself but nothing to write home about. If I remember correctly even the 55-300 out-performs it.
Comment by Frogfish posted on SMC Pentax 300mm f4 Lens Manual at 02/03/2011 - 20:49
Algernon wrote:
It's a young male, females don't have yellow beaks.
They are very friendly if you put down some sultanas, currants,
raisins etc. One actually came into my house looking for some
Really ? Interesting, never knew that !It's a young male, females don't have yellow beaks.
They are very friendly if you put down some sultanas, currants,
raisins etc. One actually came into my house looking for some
Not round here - they are unbelievably shy, won't come within 30 yds at most.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Friendly Blackbird at 02/03/2011 - 20:40
Gwyn wrote:
Nah, they have their haring raw, but never with chips.
ah I remember it well ..... though it was 30 years ago I lived there for a while !Nah, they have their haring raw, but never with chips.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Another pointless thread at 02/03/2011 - 20:02
Ratcatcher wrote:
I'll see what else i can find.
I've a feeling Richard is the seller of both I'll see what else i can find.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Metz Flash at 02/03/2011 - 20:00
Gwyn wrote:
...... and raw Haring bforbes wrote:
Would Curry sauce go with fish and chips at the Goths
Don't see why not. the Dutch love curry sauce on their chips. Preferably together with mayonnaise .Would Curry sauce go with fish and chips at the Goths
Comment by Frogfish posted on Another pointless thread at 02/03/2011 - 19:59
