[Ben_Edict]

i have had a fair bit of big L glass from canon, and im now looking to
find something similar in pentax mount. so for my wildlife needs i have
been looking at the Sigma 300mm f/2.8

/Christian
www.fiftydee.com

Hi Christian

Welcome to this forum and the world of Pentax photography. Not to discourage your decision to make the switch from Canon. But your choice for current long and fast lenses in Pentax mount are pretty limited. Pentax doesn't offer anything at all, because I wouldn't consider the DA 300/4, because it is not really fast. May be you can get your hands on a FA 600/4 or FA 300/3.8 (both screw-driver AF, both very good), because you can perhaps still order the 600/4 from Pentax in Japan and some 300/2.8 somehow pop up from time to time.

Otherwise it is Sigma. Besides the 300//2.8 and the 120-300/2.8, which I think, would be a very versatile option, there is also the 500/4.5, which seems to be a good lens. You should look for Marc Languille here in the forum, because (if I remember rightly) he has used the Sigmas and also owns (and puts to good use9 the Pentax long glass.

You find quite good info in the 300mm lens club thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/55946-300mm-plus-lens-club-dis...ng-lenses.html

Ben

[Blue]

The current Sigma teleconverters dont work with their Pentax fit HSM lenses so they would have to release new versions of these as well.

Personally I can't see it happening but would love to be proved wrong.

Also don't think they will release the 150mm macro either ... I would have bought both.

I agree with you on the tc being a very long shot which would make the lens less attractive to me. I think they will release the macro because they have publicized it too much not to release it.

[Pentaxor]

The current Sigma teleconverters dont work with their Pentax fit HSM lenses so they would have to release new versions of these as well.

Personally I can't see it happening but would love to be proved wrong.

That is the issue with the Sigma TC on Pentax. actually I can't believe why some stores or Sigma itself still continue to sell these TC's for the K-mount if they can't work on all lenses. Sigma is aware of this and that's why there had been talks of them releasing a newer TC that would be 100% compatible and working. let's just hope that this is true. for now, I guess people should look for the Tamron 1.4x PZ TC instead.

Also don't think they will release the 150mm macro either ... I would have bought both.

Sigma has already announced the new 150mm macro OS will be available for the K-mount. B&H already listed it on their website and supposedly become available later this year.

[RonHendriks1966]

Sigma has already announced the new 150mm macro OS will be available for the K-mount. B&H already listed it on their website and supposedly become available later this year.

And many off those lenses are delayed due to Tsunami, so I'm not to worried about 120-300mm either coming by X-mas.

[sjwaldron]

I read on these forums every once in a while that some of the long FA lenses could be bought special order from Japan? Assuming you have enough money to afford one, why not send an email to the Pentax devision of your home country and ask?

[Blue]

That is the issue with the Sigma TC on Pentax. actually I can't believe why some stores or Sigma itself still continue to sell these TC's for the K-mount if they can't work on all lenses. Sigma is aware of this and that's why there had been talks of them releasing a newer TC that would be 100% compatible and working. let's just hope that this is true. for now, I guess people should look for the Tamron 1.4x PZ TC instead.






Sigma has already announced the new 150mm macro OS will be available for the K-mount. B&H already listed it on their website and supposedly become available later this year.

Sigma TC are matched to certain lenses which is the best way to do a tc with a top glass like that. I don't won't a "compromise" in a tc.

Sigma APO Tele Converter 1.4x and 2x are dedicated Tele Converter lenses, which should be used only with the listed lenses.
The 1.4X Convertor will fit the following lenses
180mm f/3.5 APO MACRO EX HSM - MF
300mm f/2.8 APO EX HSM - AF
300mm f/4.0 APO MACRO - MF
400mm f/5.6 APO MACRO /HSM - MF
500mm f/4.5 APO EX HSM - MF
800mm f/ 5.6 EX HSM - MF
70-200mm f/2.8 EX HSM - AF
70-210mm f/2.8 - MF
50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO - MF
100-300mm f/4 EX HSM - AF
120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO - AF
300-800mm f/5.6 EX APO - MF
Will also fit the following Orginal Nikon AF Lenses
300mm f2.8 AF-S - AF
300mm f4.0 ED AF - MF

On the lists, the lenses marked "AF" will retain auto focus operation when used with a Tele Converter. The lenses marked "MF can only be used for manual

[jpzk]

BH has a price of $3100 for the Sigma mount when it arrives.

For the Sigma mount?
Not sure if you meant "Sigma for K (Pentax) mount." ?

If so, at $3100 the price gets closer to what I would be willing to spend on that.

JP

[Clinton]

so im trying to figure out it theres a valid Pentax k-mount route i can take. and the only
options i know of, if i dont want 20 year old lenses, is the Sigma 300 2.8 and hopefully
the new 120-300.

No one has a 120-300/2.8 for Pentax as of yet, however it sounds like the zoom in this case may be sharper than the prime.

Also, if you're willing to order from Japan, the official Pentax FA* 300/2.8 is available: ??????????????????????(??,??,??,??,??)????? (Google translate will be your friend here)

I've emailed this store in the past, and they are able to ship to the US, but you have to contact them via email first to arrange it.

I have the FA* 300/2.8 and it is a stellar lens. Sometimes they come available on ebay or on the rare occasion, here in the forums.

[jpzk]

I own the DA*300/4 and, with the K5 and its great high ISO capabilities, it is plenty fast for most situations, in reasonable good lighting conditions.

However, it is quite interesting to find out that a 120-300/2.8 would be available for Pentax. Along with the "dedicated" 1.4X Teleconverter EX APO DG TC., one would end up with 168-420mm ... f/what? f4?

Does Pentax offer anything at all in that range, with good IQ?

Not bad in weight/length either: only 5.7 pound & a mere 11 inches in length

Yes, very interesting.

JP

[Clinton]

It's also probably worth noting that the Sigma 50-500 OS HSM is available at a portion of the price, and got a favorable review here: Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO OS HSM Lens Review

[Blue]

For the Sigma mount?
Not sure if you meant "Sigma for K (Pentax) mount." ?

If so, at $3100 the price gets closer to what I would be willing to spend on that.

JP

Yes, for the Sigma dSLR bodies. I think Adorama actually has that lens with the Sigma mount in stock for $3199.

http://www.adorama.com/SG120300OSSG.html


Interestingly, they show it "backordered" for Pentax!

http://www.adorama.com/SG120300OSPX.html

[RonHendriks1966]

However, it is quite interesting to find out that a 120-300/2.8 would be available for Pentax. Along with the "dedicated" 1.4X Teleconverter EX APO DG TC., one would end up with 168-420mm ... f/what? f4?

Yes that makes it 168-420mm/f4 and that is also a great reach, but still on the short side for birds.

It's also probably worth noting that the Sigma 50-500 OS HSM is available at a portion of the price, and got a favorable review here: Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO OS HSM Lens Review

Well that is a nice lens, but it is f5,6 from 195mm ans f6,3 from 320-500mm on the long site, so no comparison to the 120-300 with a 1,4xTC wich has one and a half stop advantage. Sigma Lens: Zooms - Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM APO (Tested) - SLRgear.com!

[jon pafford]

if you want a long telephoto, sigma makes a 150-500 and 50-500mm. kenko 1.5 and tamron 1.4 teleconverter will fit on these lens. flicker has groups for sigma 150-500 and 50-500. ask these groups about putting a teleconverter on these lens.

[K5DK]

RonHendriks1966:
how did you experience the focus system of the lens as a whole ?
im asking because the only screw drive lenses i ever had is the 55-300 for my k5
and an old Tamron 24-135 for my Nik D700

otherwise i have only used USM/HSM lenses and i know they cant be compared.
but im interested in how the sigma 300mm drive compares to the 55-300 which
is paaaainfully slow ?

it's a lot of money to put down if the lens is too slow :-)
i know all of this is very subjective, but that wont stop me trying to gather as much
info as possible :-)


/Christian
Photography by Christian Axelsen - Nature Photography & fine art prints

[sjwaldron]

No one has a 120-300/2.8 for Pentax as of yet, however it sounds like the zoom in this case may be sharper than the prime.

Also, if you're willing to order from Japan, the official Pentax FA* 300/2.8 is available: ??????????????????????(??,??,??,??,??)????? (Google translate will be your friend here)

I've emailed this store in the past, and they are able to ship to the US, but you have to contact them via email first to arrange it.

I have the FA* 300/2.8 and it is a stellar lens. Sometimes they come available on ebay or on the rare occasion, here in the forums.

Wow, those two listed are used and around $3800.

I have to say though, Pentax would be my preference. I have a DA* 300mm and recently used it with the Kenko 1.5x Pz AF converter at an airshow. Focus was pretty slow, but I did get some great images for sure (from a technical sharpness standpoint, still processing them).