Cheap AND sharp autofocus 300mm?

rkohli · 12-06-2010, 06:50 AM

Originally posted by Frogfish

Rajeev. If you were thinking macro as well as tele then, now you have saved a bundle by going for the DA* 300 do yourself a favour and get yourself a dedicated macro lens ( I love spending other people's money

). I use the Tamron 90 Di Macro and it is an absolutely outstanding lens for macro, portrait and street.

Picked up the Tamron 90 Di Macro as suggested. It is lovely. Super for Macro work, and gives the FA77 a run for its money for portraiture.
Thanks for the advice.

**Clarkey** · 12-06-2010, 07:24 PM

The 55-300 is a good choice. I'd definitely plump for the original version with quickshift, as the focussing noise was probably scaring that bird off.......

The other one to look out for is the Sigma 70-300 - the APO version - it doesn't have the same PF issues that the DC has.

The 55-300mm is very sharp out to around 230mm, and holds F4.5 out to just under 200mm

Some 55-300mm samples:

(this one shot wide open at ISO 1100 on the K7 - a little NR in the shadows)

Nick Siebers · 12-06-2010, 10:01 PM

Well to me the OP's original shot looks just fine, so my opinion is worth about that much. Still, I like my FA-J 75-300. I am sure image quality is probably below the DA 55-300, but in truth I don't use it that much. When I do, it seems to come out fine.

Pentaxor · 12-06-2010, 10:50 PM

Originally posted by rkohli

Picked up the Tamron 90 Di Macro as suggested. It is lovely. Super for Macro work, and gives the FA77 a run for its money for portraiture.
Thanks for the advice.

you should try the Tokina ATX/Vivitar S1 90/2.5.

Frogfish · 12-06-2010, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by rkohli

Picked up the Tamron 90 Di Macro as suggested. It is lovely. Super for Macro work, and gives the FA77 a run for its money for portraiture.
Thanks for the advice.

Glad to hear you love it as much as I love mine it seems, it's a fantastic, ubiquitous, lense !

Frogfish · 12-06-2010, 10:56 PM

Originally posted by Clarkey

The 55-300 is a good choice. I'd definitely plump for the original version with quickshift, as the focussing noise was probably scaring that bird off.......

The other one to look out for is the Sigma 70-300 - the APO version - it doesn't have the same PF issues that the DC has.

The 55-300mm is very sharp out to around 230mm, and holds F4.5 out to just under 200mm

Superb shot of the Great Tit (?).

**Clarkey** · 12-07-2010, 09:02 PM

Originally posted by Frogfish

Superb shot of the Great Tit (?).

Thanks very much - it's a Chickadee, my favorite bird here in Canada, after my all time favorites fantails (or a willy wagtail as my Aussie neighbors will call it) in New Zealand.

Frogfish · 12-07-2010, 11:48 PM

Originally posted by Clarkey

Thanks very much - it's a Chickadee, my favorite bird here in Canada, after my all time favorites fantails (or a willy wagtail as my Aussie neighbors will call it) in New Zealand.

Nice - looks a bit like the Great Tit in the UK from that shot

British Garden Birds - Great Tit

Amazingly there are wagtails over here (Shanghai) too - saw one in my garden just the other day ! Looked like a Pied Wagtail :

British Garden Birds - Pied Wagtail

12-06-2010, 07:24 PM	#32
Clarkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,456	The 55-300 is a good choice. I'd definitely plump for the original version with quickshift, as the focussing noise was probably scaring that bird off....... The other one to look out for is the Sigma 70-300 - the APO version - it doesn't have the same PF issues that the DC has. The 55-300mm is very sharp out to around 230mm, and holds F4.5 out to just under 200mm Some 55-300mm samples: (this one shot wide open at ISO 1100 on the K7 - a little NR in the shadows) Last edited by Clarkey; 12-06-2010 at 07:27 PM. Reason: ISO comments

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12-06-2010, 06:50 AM	#31
rkohli Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Delhi Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 81	Originally posted by Frogfish Rajeev. If you were thinking macro as well as tele then, now you have saved a bundle by going for the DA* 300 do yourself a favour and get yourself a dedicated macro lens ( I love spending other people's money ). I use the Tamron 90 Di Macro and it is an absolutely outstanding lens for macro, portrait and street. Picked up the Tamron 90 Di Macro as suggested. It is lovely. Super for Macro work, and gives the FA77 a run for its money for portraiture. Thanks for the advice.

12-06-2010, 10:01 PM	#33
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Well to me the OP's original shot looks just fine, so my opinion is worth about that much. Still, I like my FA-J 75-300. I am sure image quality is probably below the DA 55-300, but in truth I don't use it that much. When I do, it seems to come out fine.

12-06-2010, 10:50 PM	#34
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by rkohli Picked up the Tamron 90 Di Macro as suggested. It is lovely. Super for Macro work, and gives the FA77 a run for its money for portraiture. Thanks for the advice. you should try the Tokina ATX/Vivitar S1 90/2.5.

12-06-2010, 10:55 PM	#35
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by rkohli Picked up the Tamron 90 Di Macro as suggested. It is lovely. Super for Macro work, and gives the FA77 a run for its money for portraiture. Thanks for the advice. Glad to hear you love it as much as I love mine it seems, it's a fantastic, ubiquitous, lense !

12-06-2010, 10:56 PM	#36
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by Clarkey The 55-300 is a good choice. I'd definitely plump for the original version with quickshift, as the focussing noise was probably scaring that bird off....... The other one to look out for is the Sigma 70-300 - the APO version - it doesn't have the same PF issues that the DC has. The 55-300mm is very sharp out to around 230mm, and holds F4.5 out to just under 200mm Superb shot of the Great Tit (?).

12-07-2010, 09:02 PM	#37
Clarkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,456	Originally posted by Frogfish Superb shot of the Great Tit (?). Thanks very much - it's a Chickadee, my favorite bird here in Canada, after my all time favorites fantails (or a willy wagtail as my Aussie neighbors will call it) in New Zealand.

12-07-2010, 11:48 PM	#38
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by Clarkey Thanks very much - it's a Chickadee, my favorite bird here in Canada, after my all time favorites fantails (or a willy wagtail as my Aussie neighbors will call it) in New Zealand. Nice - looks a bit like the Great Tit in the UK from that shot British Garden Birds - Great Tit Amazingly there are wagtails over here (Shanghai) too - saw one in my garden just the other day ! Looked like a Pied Wagtail : British Garden Birds - Pied Wagtail

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