SMC 500mm f4.5 K series opinions?

[rdrum76]

What are the opinions on the SMC 500mm f4.5 K series lens?

It is manual everything = focus and aperture?

IQ? Bokeh? Color? CA?

thanks

[Tom S.]

Did you look in the Lens Database?

Pentax Lens Review Database - 500mm F4.5

[rdrum76]

yes i did check the database, but the reviews were mixed

thanks

[m8o]

this is one of the better threads about it:

smc 500mm f4.5, couldn't help myself

I once bought one on eBay that turned out to be in real crappy condition so I backed out of the sale. I had a thread about that but there wasn't much discussion in it worth mentioning here.

[rdrum76]

hi,

wow, this is a big sucker; which tripod and head is recommended?

that link is good; the pictures even better

[emaruyama]

Hey rdrum, folks! how's it going?

Here's a shot I took with this lens

JAS39 - Swedish Air Force in Iqaluit on Flickr - Photo Sharing!



You'll find a few other shots with the same lens along with that one on my Flickr album... I've used a monopod BTW

Regards,
Ed

[rdrum76]

monopod? that is nice technique

I am crazy excited to pick up this lens. I been wrapping many rolls of quarters

[dadipentak]

I've got the M42 version. I've gotten a couple good bird shots with it but I'm still working out technique. Depending on your experience, it may take some time to get comfortable with it--that's certainly the case for me (partly because this is my only screw mount lens.)

My copy is coated but not SMC and I get a moderate amount of fringing. I haven't come to any definite conclusions about sharpness but my impression is that it can do quite well if handled correctly under good conditions. I've combined it with the AF 1.7x TC--which works reasonably well but, again, I'm not ready to speak to the question of resolution yet--operator error is still too much a variable.

Another thing: it's big and heavy--really big and heavy. I'm reasonably strong but I've got small hands and mounting it on the camera and tripod can be a bit of an adventure. To date, I've only used it from my back porch and I'm not going to to take it out on a shoot until I'm feeling pretty confident about getting good shots from it.

[borno]

I have a k mount version and it is big and heavy (of course) manual aperture manual focus, it's not internal focus so the camera moves back as you focus closer. Minimum focus I think 30 ft. I have the da300 and 1.7x TC and it is probably sharper, but the 500 has the nice bokeh. A little fringing (warm magenta) but not too bad. I got a bush hawk so I could try to free up my left hand for focus, only tried that twice so far so the jury is still out but it worked ok. I think it would be great on a full size sensor.

Click on the image to view it in a larger size

Click on the image to view it in a larger size

[dadipentak]

Nice shots, Borno! Here's my best (500mm x 1.7) so far:
User Photo Gallery - Nature

[Lowell Goudge]

this offers the chance for a great comparison same bird same type of shot, different lens and TC combo

see attached sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX and sigma APO 2x EX DG teleconverter

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/187646-post19.html

I think I also have the same pose as your shot I will attach it also when I find it,

[rdrum76]

how do you bold the title line?

also can a heavy tripod head be sufficient instead of a wimberley head for the SMC 500mm k series?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rdrum76

What are the opinions on the SMC 500mm f4.5 K series lens?

It is manual everything = focus and aperture?

IQ? Bokeh? Color? CA?

thanks

To make a long story short:

CA = bad

Everything else = superb

This lens is an amazing value - check out the review I just posted in the DB!

[Lowell Goudge]

Originally Posted by rdrum76

how do you bold the title line?

also can a heavy tripod head be sufficient instead of a wimbley head for the SMC 500mm k series?

the big advantage of the wimbly head is the ability to track moving objects smoothly.

it you have a stationary object normal tripods work well, but also consider the tripod head. it represents a single pivot point for vibration.

I use a 1000mm Telescope, as well as other lens combinations in excess of 400mm and have found that a bogen-monfretto long lens stabolizer works well.

see the attached link

359 Bogen - Manfrotto Long Lens Camera Support (#3252)

One note however, is in the photo, it shows the support dropping vertically, this does nothing for side to side shake, I have found it much petter if it is at an angle off vertical

[dadipentak]

Stunning shot, Lowell!