a quick note on the DA*300

[forestG]

Well I'm lucky enough to have a 300 on loan as a test/trial run and I must say that, although the lens has a hefty $tag among others of this caliber and mount, and my copy has a bit of dirt on the inner elements, and the focus is a tad rough in manual, and hunting is an issue if your all the way up the other end to start with, (It’s one that gets lent out, a demo version if you like-holds value but not so much) this lens, is in a word, “marvelous”
My thinking is, if you need a 300 and own a Pentax then get one of these.
Nuff Said.

[forestG]

100% crop
1/200 f5.6 160iso

[fwcetus]

Originally Posted by forestG

and my copy has a bit of dirt on the inner elements

Whaaa...? I thought these were supposed to be reasonably weather-sealed, and not likely to pick up "a bit of dirt" inside.

From what I have seen, though, the optical design is indeed a good one - if I weren't already a frequent F* 300/4.5 user, I'd be lusting after one... ;-)

[forestG]

just to clarify this is a factory second for 'have a crack' use only , its been around a bit, no external marks, its mint otherwise

[cooldude14es]

I am really thinking about buying one, but I dont know if it is another LBA attack, I think it is too long for my everyday photos and too short for nature...

Otherwise it is a wonderful lens.

[forestG]

yep in the back-yard its a little long but out on the street it does open up a whole new world, perfect for wild life i think. Its heavy and is hard to hold steady but with a couple hours in the hand i'm getting it down pat

[Eaglerapids]

I couldn't agree more forestG. Cooldude, I believe you'd be amazed with it's versatility, I love it's close focusing abilities.
And here's a good excuse to post this pic:-). I just got the K20D and wanted to see both how well you can crop with this sensor and, in this photo, how well it handles ISO400. So the DA* 300/4 and Spike both jumped up to the plate.

K20D, DA*300/4, f4, 1/500sec, ISO400, cropped to what Lightroom calls 1:1. Pretty sure it's a 100% crop if I understand this right, I call it 100%.


Shot on a tripod, but it's hard to catch Spike not moving, real hard:-).

[cooldude14es]

And is there any optical improvement when comparing it with a F*300 or FA*300?

Thanks.

[Michaelina2]

Originally Posted by cooldude14es

And is there any optical improvement when comparing it with a F*300 or FA*300?

Thanks.

Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it?

Cheers...

[fwcetus]

Originally Posted by Michaelina2

Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it?

Well, there are a lot ~more~ examples out there, and, as an F*300/4.5 user (who admittedly has never actually handled a DA* 300/4), I have seen enough images to convince me that the DA* 300/4 is a comparable lens to the F*/FA* 300/4.5 optically.

[cooldude14es]

Originally Posted by Michaelina2

Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it?

Cheers...

Obviously DA*300mm is an amazing lens, but my question was if there is any difference between all three (DA*, FA* and F* 300mm) optically speaking.

[cooldude14es]

Originally Posted by fwcetus

Well, there are a lot ~more~ examples out there, and, as an F*300/4.5 user (who admittedly has never actually handled a DA* 300/4), I have seen enough images to convince me that the DA* 300/4 is a comparable lens to the F*/FA* 300/4.5 optically.

So it seems that F*/FA* 300 f4.5 were considered the best of the best in the 300mm range.

[palmor]

How about a 100% crop WITH the Kenko 1.5x TC attached and only stopped down 1 stop (f/5.6)

[Eaglerapids]

At ISO 800 to boot Palmor! Awesome, oh my this 20D rocks:-).

[Michaelina2]

Originally Posted by Eaglerapids

At ISO 800 to boot Palmor! Awesome, oh my this 20D rocks:-).

Looks like it's time to update the ol' sig... eh?

(You're gonna love the K20D)

Cheers...