Chris. Can only see the kite pic, but that is enough to get my 'wants' juices flowing again. Seems that everyone with the 300 4.5 is keeping them under lock and key, so to speak.

Am at present playing with mamiya lens, a bit in desperation. Cannot see me handholding and capturing a bird in flight with that set up.

I am getting some nice results with flowers, though. Will put one on the Gallery in a while.

regards Thoramay

Stefan.
At heart, I am a macro person. The macro subject mostly is still. Just thought with the summer I would take a journey into wild life. Visited a wetland in Northern Ireland and my 18-250 was just so inadequate.

SO!! Thinks. Must get a long lens and a prime lens at that, because that is what all the snappers had at the wetland.

I had no idea just what a difficult journey that would be.

Having researched the Pentax brand I wanted the best. A 300mm F4.5. Nobody on this Forum has taken pity on me and offered such a lens.

I am grateful for all the advice I have been given and such a lot and very helpful.

At the cottage we stayed in N.I. was a little plaque. It read simply.

'Please God grant me Patience but grant it now'.

Somehow. That fits this situation.

Do keep up the encouragement.

regards Thoramay

When you stop and think about it all seriosly, it is a lot of struggle and expense just to take a good picture of a bird which you can mostly see every day with your normal vision.

I am getting really dispondant in trying to source a decent long lens. Better to get myself a charity shop jigsaw and begone with all the hastle.

Out of my eighteen lens, not one is giving me the results that I expect.

Going down the 6x7 route is a problem as the only lens capable of quality shots are just as expensive as the 35mm primes.

Just has a sqirrel visit the bird feeders. Ten shots and not one worth the time.

Ah well. That's got my despondency off my chest. There is always tommorrow.

regards thoramay

Very much as I suspected but had to ask. Thanks to you both for coming back

regards Thoramay

Has anyone used the Pentax 1.7 converter behind the 80-320 and what can I expect for results using it for wildlife.

regards thoramay

Thanks. The only 300mm 4.5 I have found is from Japan at £750. I did not want to get my fingers burned.

I am also reading of the 'fantastic' results of zooms to 400mm. Just wondering if this would be a better option than the primes. Again, don't want to be disappointed if I took that rtoute.

Had a comment that the SDM motor could let you down. Their quietness would be a boon for birding.

Maybe I am reading too many opinions and only confusing myself.

regards Thoramay.

1. What is the going rate for a 300mm 4.5

2. Would the 300 4.5 be a better bet than the DA 300mm. Concerned about the sdm motor on the DA.

Would a Contact/Yashica with a T mount be able to fit to the K10.

Would a 300mm CZJ lens be conpatable with a Pentax K10.

Would a zoom to 400mm give results compatable with a 300mm prime.

regards thoramay.

algi. I am sure I have read the ability to set the auto power off but that would have only stayed in my memory for the time it took to turn the page, so thatnks for the tip. Might just use the remote again. It will let me get closer to the bird feeder.
Once I am satisfied that the settings are right, I can sit in my armchair and just click away.

regards thoramay.

John, thanks for the links. As much as I am tempted with the Cannon version, I have read on other forums that the width of the collar is insufficiant to give firm support without risking damage to the lens.

The second method is more substancial and would be ok in a home situation. Don't know how practical it might be to carry elsewhere.

It would ceratinly fit my needs at present. The basic design gives room to make improvements with the front support.

Probably will go for it and report back.

thanks again. Thoramay.

Algi. I have the Halnel Pro remote FM. and great it is in some situations.
The problem I have found with this remote using it with birding is that the camera goes to sleep after a short while and you then have to waken it up and re focus.
Perhaps it is a fault of th K10, but the noise that the camera makes in doing this just scares the birds away. Some specie of birds become used to it but the young and the shy do not.

It is useful in fully auto, but manual focus will still give the same problem of getting the camera to retain focus when I take my hand from the button.

Conversely, using the Mamiya lens required stop down metering. It is really only practical to be with the camera.

Does the later versions of Pentax bodies suffer from the sleep mode and noisy shutter?

regards Thoramay