smcP-FA J 75-300mm f/4.5-5.8 AL

rojaba · 12-18-2006, 06:28 AM

Hi there

I'm new here, don't be too harsh on me but I have a question.

I have an ist DL2 and a smc DA 18-55 lens with it. Now I'd like to get better lens with it to take a picture of things that are further away and came across the smcP-FA J 75-300mm f/4.5-5.8 AL which retails around 150-200$ which is nice for a student's budget.
My question is. Where is the catch?

It says it has no aperture ring (how on earth can one make a picture without one? Or have I got it completely wrong and is that not so important?)

Hope to learn from you guys

All the best

RJ

**jfdavis58** · 12-18-2006, 07:08 AM

Let me just push this question right back at you: Do you use the aperture ring now?

For a long time now, the aperture ring on lenses for Pentax cameras has been something of a cosmetic fixture. Aperture is controlled internally in the AUTO mode and via some combination of wheels or buttons and a wheel otherwise.

On the K100 for instance, that button near the shutter release is held down by the index finger while turning the e-wheel on the back with the thumb. On the K10, it's controlled entirely with custom settings and a pair of e-wheels under index finger tip and thumb-(and sometime with a green-dot button).

Lipo · 12-18-2006, 07:32 AM

I guess the catch is that this lens has a plastic mount. Otherwise it has decent glass and is capable of taking good pictures. It's kind of big and requires some good light because it's not considered a "fast" lens. Yet it gives you the field of view on your DL2 equal to what you'd get with an equivalent 122-450mm. lens put on 35mm film (75x1.5 and 300x1.5, 1.5 times smaller than 35m film is the size of the digital sensor) so this lens might be too long for you. Therefore, on digital the equivalent would be a 50-200mm lens. It depends though what you'd use it for, and if you can hold it steady enough or use a tripod, then 75-300 on digital can be very useful just not as convenient to carry around.

Buschmaster · 12-18-2006, 07:43 AM

Is this one of those lenses that goes "soft" at long ranges?

**rprii** · 12-18-2006, 09:52 AM

I have been very happy with this lens. Here are a couple of shots taken with my *istDS . . . only post processing was resizing . . .

rojaba · 12-18-2006, 11:29 AM

that's good, because I was actually thinking of using the lens for sports photography (so it can't be that "slow" a lens)

Lipo · 12-18-2006, 05:46 PM

Do you want to make an offer on mine? Since I got the DA 50-200 I never use the FA-J 75-300 anymore, also never used it that much to begin with. It was just part of my learning process.

rojaba · 12-19-2006, 04:36 AM

not sure whether shipping a lense across the atlantic is the way forward

besides, I've been looking at the smc da 50-200, especially in the wake of what you've said earlier

roscot · 12-19-2006, 05:51 AM

Originally posted by rojaba

not sure whether shipping a lense across the atlantic is the way forward

besides, I've been looking at the smc da 50-200, especially in the wake of what you've said earlier

I was going to suggest looking at the DA50-200, also.

As you are looking for lenses check out the Lens Review links page, and the Other Resources page, there is a lot of good info for Pentax newbees. You can get to either page through the site home page link.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/links/browselinks.php?c=9

Cheers
-Alan
"Don't let the LBA bug bite"

12-18-2006, 06:28 AM	#1
rojaba Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Herzogenaurach Photos: Albums Posts: 226	smcP-FA J 75-300mm f/4.5-5.8 AL Hi there I'm new here, don't be too harsh on me but I have a question. I have an ist DL2 and a smc DA 18-55 lens with it. Now I'd like to get better lens with it to take a picture of things that are further away and came across the smcP-FA J 75-300mm f/4.5-5.8 AL which retails around 150-200$ which is nice for a student's budget. My question is. Where is the catch? It says it has no aperture ring (how on earth can one make a picture without one? Or have I got it completely wrong and is that not so important?) Hope to learn from you guys All the best RJ

12-18-2006, 09:52 AM	#5
rprii Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 178	I have been very happy with this lens. Here are a couple of shots taken with my istDS . . . only post processing was resizing . . . Last edited by rprii; 05-12-2007 at 05:29 PM.*

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12-18-2006, 07:08 AM	#2
jfdavis58 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 13 S 0357397-3884316 Photos: Gallery Posts: 887	Let me just push this question right back at you: Do you use the aperture ring now? For a long time now, the aperture ring on lenses for Pentax cameras has been something of a cosmetic fixture. Aperture is controlled internally in the AUTO mode and via some combination of wheels or buttons and a wheel otherwise. On the K100 for instance, that button near the shutter release is held down by the index finger while turning the e-wheel on the back with the thumb. On the K10, it's controlled entirely with custom settings and a pair of e-wheels under index finger tip and thumb-(and sometime with a green-dot button).

12-18-2006, 07:32 AM	#3
Lipo Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 48	I guess the catch is that this lens has a plastic mount. Otherwise it has decent glass and is capable of taking good pictures. It's kind of big and requires some good light because it's not considered a "fast" lens. Yet it gives you the field of view on your DL2 equal to what you'd get with an equivalent 122-450mm. lens put on 35mm film (75x1.5 and 300x1.5, 1.5 times smaller than 35m film is the size of the digital sensor) so this lens might be too long for you. Therefore, on digital the equivalent would be a 50-200mm lens. It depends though what you'd use it for, and if you can hold it steady enough or use a tripod, then 75-300 on digital can be very useful just not as convenient to carry around.

12-18-2006, 07:43 AM	#4
Buschmaster Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 806	Is this one of those lenses that goes "soft" at long ranges?

12-18-2006, 11:29 AM	#6
rojaba Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Herzogenaurach Photos: Albums Posts: 226 Original Poster	that's good, because I was actually thinking of using the lens for sports photography (so it can't be that "slow" a lens)

12-18-2006, 05:46 PM	#7
Lipo Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 48	Do you want to make an offer on mine? Since I got the DA 50-200 I never use the FA-J 75-300 anymore, also never used it that much to begin with. It was just part of my learning process.

12-19-2006, 04:36 AM	#8
rojaba Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Herzogenaurach Photos: Albums Posts: 226 Original Poster	not sure whether shipping a lense across the atlantic is the way forward besides, I've been looking at the smc da 50-200, especially in the wake of what you've said earlier

12-19-2006, 05:51 AM	#9
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	Originally posted by rojaba not sure whether shipping a lense across the atlantic is the way forward besides, I've been looking at the smc da 50-200, especially in the wake of what you've said earlier I was going to suggest looking at the DA50-200, also. As you are looking for lenses check out the Lens Review links page, and the Other Resources page, there is a lot of good info for Pentax newbees. You can get to either page through the site home page link. https://www.pentaxforums.com/links/browselinks.php?c=9 Cheers -Alan "Don't let the LBA bug bite"