[Tbear]

:-).
This is all your fault Jay but thanks for the heads up:-). I've never ordered from these guys but they have pretty good ratings so I took a chance.
The eagle and wood duck pics pushed me over the edge so you guys are responsible too, lol. I was tired, just like the goose, of this quest. Endless searching on Ebay looking for a quality 300 or 400mm lens. Waiting forever for this DA* lens to show up. This was the lens I really wanted but didn't want to pay $1300 for it. I'm still not absolutely sure this is a better lens in pure IQ than a F* or FA* equivalent but I give up waiting for one of those at a reasonable price (well, a reasonable price TO ME). I did bid $925 for that recent F* 300/4.5 on Ebay and $935 won it and I'm glad that guy got it. For $200 more I got a new lens with SDM, weather sealing etc etc and a tripod collar in the case of getting a FA*. Also, originally that recent F* sold with the guy saying there was something in the lens, the last seller said he couldn't see it, but still he was selling it after a very short time of owning it............................

And you know what? I'm willing to support Pentax in buying their new lens in this case. They made us wait forever it seems but here it is. I've bought a lot of older glass in the past year that Pentax still supports and I bought a used 31Limited that didn't help the company out so I'm happy to send a bit their way. I would love to see this company thrive.

WooooooooooHoooooooooooooooooo my first * lens:-)!!!!!!!!

I bought mine from them also - great transaction and the lens is spectacular.

[borno]

Here's a cut one from this morning

[Tbear]

From my backyard today:

f5:

[Lance B]

How about these? I mainly used high ISO, and some slowish shutter speeds, yet they still look pretty good to me.

K20D DA*300 f4 @ f6.3 1/200sec ISO1000. Hand held.
This was taken through small cage wire and I therefore had to work on it to get reasonable contrast and a decent result. I like the way the birds were cuddled up together. :-)



K20D DA*300 f4 @ f5.6 1/50sec ISO800. Hand held.



K20D DA*300 f4 @ f5.6 1/100sec ISO800. Hand held.
This was one of the AF C shots.



K20D + DA*300 f4 @ f5.6 1/50sec ISO200. Hand held.



K20D + DA*300 f4 @ f5.6 1/160sec ISO800. Hand held.



K20D + DA*300 f4 @ f5.6 1/250sec ISO800. Hand held.



K20D + DA*300 f4 @ f5.6 1/320sec ISO800. Hand held.



K20D + DA*300 f4 @ f6.3 1/50sec ISO800. Hand held.
I bet you've never seen a Koala yawn. Considering they sleep for about 22 hours a day it's a wonder we see them do *anything*!!



K20D + DA*300 f4 @ f5.6 1/50sec ISO200. Hand held.

[AML]

Hiya Lance

So you made it too the zoo.

The K20D and the DA* 300 is such a wonderful combination. You did a fantastic job with these Lance. I love the colours and lighting with the cuddley parrots. All of your pics are the best zoo pics i've seen to date. Thanks for sharing them.

[Lance B]

Hiya Lance

So you made it too the zoo.

The K20D and the DA* 300 is such a wonderful combination. You did a fantastic job with these Lance. I love the colours and lighting with the cuddley parrots. All of your pics are the best zoo pics i've seen to date. Thanks for sharing them.

And thank you very much for your very nice comments, Anne. Much appreciated.

Yes we made it to the zoo, but I am up for another trip in a few weeks or so if anyone here is interested.

[AML]

Yes we made it to the zoo, but I am up for another trip in a few weeks or so if anyone here is interested.

Would you believe my 50-200mm stopped auto focusing on Friday. Took it back to Teds on Saturday morning to be sent away to brissie for repairs.
Placed an order with Adorama for the DA 55-300mm last night, should have it in a couple of weeks, hopefully! The zoo would be a great place to test it out when i receive it.

BTW, how did you go with parking?

[Lance B]

Would you believe my 50-200mm stopped auto focusing on Friday. Took it back to Teds on Saturday morning to be sent away to brissie for repairs.
Placed an order with Adorama for the DA 55-300mm last night, should have it in a couple of weeks, hopefully! The zoo would be a great place to test it out when i receive it.

BTW, how did you go with parking?

They sent it to Brissie for repairs?? Is that the Pentax 50-200? If it is the Pentax 50-200 it would/should have gone to Melbourne where CRK does the repair. No Pentax repair facility in Brisbane.

We shall have to organise another zoo photoshoot for those from the Pentax Forum so you can test your new lens.

Parking was ok as we got there at about 9:30am and there was still about a dozen spots left at that time. I would hate to be there qo minutes later, though.