Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

DanielT74 · 07-02-2011, 12:52 PM

Well I have been shooting birds a bit lately and really enjoying it. And of course as an LBA sufferer the thought comes of better equipment would help.

I have the A 400/5.6. Used to own the fabulous A* 300/2.8 but it is a monster and dragging the case around was just not really appealing.

Been lusting after the Sigma 100-300/4 but the real question for more experienced and wiser people is whether I really need it. The A 400/5.6 seems to me to be a pretty good lens. Do I need AF? Faster glass?

Do I?

stormtech · 07-02-2011, 01:52 PM

I am in the same predicament myself right now, except I am a step behind you in that I am lusting for an A/400 5.6 right now.......

Quote:

Do I need another telephoto lens?

Of course you do!

8540tomg · 07-02-2011, 02:10 PM

Daniel,

Do you really need another telephoto lens? This is a question only you can really answer. Like yourself I have a 400mm – in my case the M 400/5.6. I find 400mm, in most cases, to be a very good focal length for birding. It has the added bonus of being reasonably light weight and affordable. This being said no lens is ever long enough when shooting birds it seems. I do find f/5.6 to be a tad on the slow however especially with my K10. I suspect the K5 with its increased dynamic range would solve this issue. I hope to put this to the test in the next month or so.

I think it was Ron Boggs who suggested in another thread that improving your stalking technique and getting closer to your subject will yield better more consistent results than longer glass. This is undoubtedly true. Most of my better 400mm shots have come when I was able to get quite close the subject and very near to the 15ft minimum focusing distance of the M 400. As far a birding goes I think the best advice would be to get the longest, fastest and best glass you can afford.

In a perfect world I would like to have a 600/4 and the stalking skills of a Comanche.

Tom G

cmohr · 07-02-2011, 08:52 PM

Dan, I know what you mean. I have actually decided against the 100-300 myself, I just bought a Sigma AF 400/5.6. As well, now I have a great copy of the Kenko 1.5x TC that works brilliantly with the DA*50-135 (yes, SDM works perfectly with the TC), so I effectively I now have a 100-270/f4.

As far a Auto focus goes, to be honest, even at any FL I find myself, for critical shots, I always go to manual focus to get the part of the subect I want to be "in focus", in focus, rather than what the camera decides to lock on.

jon pafford · 07-02-2011, 09:26 PM

I use a tamron 1.4 teleconverter and a da 55-300. i have a sigma a 170-500 and a 50-500. i use the tamron 1.4 teleconvertwe and the da 55-300 because it is lighter. when i use the tamron and da lens, i have to set the focus on the da lens to infinite before i use the auto focus on the camera. i hope this helps.

OrenMc · 07-03-2011, 05:52 AM

The Sigma EX DG 100-300 f4 has been discontinued but if you know where one can be puchased, please let me know via PM please.

07-02-2011, 12:52 PM	#1
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377	Do I need another telephoto lens? Well I have been shooting birds a bit lately and really enjoying it. And of course as an LBA sufferer the thought comes of better equipment would help. I have the A 400/5.6. Used to own the fabulous A* 300/2.8 but it is a monster and dragging the case around was just not really appealing. Been lusting after the Sigma 100-300/4 but the real question for more experienced and wiser people is whether I really need it. The A 400/5.6 seems to me to be a pretty good lens. Do I need AF? Faster glass? Do I?

07-03-2011, 05:52 AM	#6
OrenMc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,901	The Sigma EX DG 100-300 f4 has been discontinued but if you know where one can be puchased, please let me know via PM please. Last edited by OrenMc; 08-14-2011 at 03:43 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Which Telephoto lens?	bluemoo	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	30	10-26-2016 03:59 PM
Using a flash with a telephoto lens	garyk	Photographic Technique	3	04-21-2010 11:05 AM
Telephoto Lens Advice	Caat	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	24	12-30-2009 02:18 PM
Telephoto lens	jone1	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	12	10-29-2009 02:55 PM
Telephoto Lens recommendations!	hsu1	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	07-22-2009 09:48 AM

07-02-2011, 01:52 PM	#2
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	I am in the same predicament myself right now, except I am a step behind you in that I am lusting for an A/400 5.6 right now....... Quote: Do I need another telephoto lens? Of course you do!

07-02-2011, 02:10 PM	#3
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Daniel, Do you really need another telephoto lens? This is a question only you can really answer. Like yourself I have a 400mm – in my case the M 400/5.6. I find 400mm, in most cases, to be a very good focal length for birding. It has the added bonus of being reasonably light weight and affordable. This being said no lens is ever long enough when shooting birds it seems. I do find f/5.6 to be a tad on the slow however especially with my K10. I suspect the K5 with its increased dynamic range would solve this issue. I hope to put this to the test in the next month or so. I think it was Ron Boggs who suggested in another thread that improving your stalking technique and getting closer to your subject will yield better more consistent results than longer glass. This is undoubtedly true. Most of my better 400mm shots have come when I was able to get quite close the subject and very near to the 15ft minimum focusing distance of the M 400. As far a birding goes I think the best advice would be to get the longest, fastest and best glass you can afford. In a perfect world I would like to have a 600/4 and the stalking skills of a Comanche. Tom G

07-02-2011, 08:52 PM	#4
cmohr Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Brisbane. Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,824	Dan, I know what you mean. I have actually decided against the 100-300 myself, I just bought a Sigma AF 400/5.6. As well, now I have a great copy of the Kenko 1.5x TC that works brilliantly with the DA*50-135 (yes, SDM works perfectly with the TC), so I effectively I now have a 100-270/f4. As far a Auto focus goes, to be honest, even at any FL I find myself, for critical shots, I always go to manual focus to get the part of the subect I want to be "in focus", in focus, rather than what the camera decides to lock on.

07-02-2011, 09:26 PM	#5
jon pafford Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: houston texas Photos: Albums Posts: 80	I use a tamron 1.4 teleconverter and a da 55-300. i have a sigma a 170-500 and a 50-500. i use the tamron 1.4 teleconvertwe and the da 55-300 because it is lighter. when i use the tamron and da lens, i have to set the focus on the da lens to infinite before i use the auto focus on the camera. i hope this helps.