DA55-300 w/heavy cropping

**csa** · 11-22-2014, 11:23 AM

I'm very pleased with my DA55-300 lens. This was taken @300, handheld. Very heavy cropping on image #2.

I had planned on getting a 1.4 TC for this lens, but reading the forums, it is not recommended; as quality is not as good as simply cropping.

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Last edited by csa; 11-22-2014 at 11:39 AM.

**jatrax** · 11-22-2014, 12:24 PM

Nice shots, oddly I thought K10D as soon as I saw the picture. Something about that sensor is still amazing.

Don't completely write off a 1.4x TC. The new Pentax HD 1.4x TC is by many reports excellent and does produce better images than cropping. But auto-focus will be marginal with the 55-300 and of course it is quite expensive. Just wanted to point out not all TCs are created equal.

**csa** · 11-22-2014, 02:44 PM

Yes, I'm very impressed with the K10D! I don't know how expensive that new TC would be, but I'd probably be better off getting a dedicated lens, 400?

**jatrax** · 11-22-2014, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by csa

Yes, I'm very impressed with the K10D! I don't know how expensive that new TC would be, but I'd probably be better off getting a dedicated lens, 400?

Until I got the TC I would have said the same, now I am not so sure. Since there are no modern 400mm primes for Pentax I guess it is hard to really say. The only comparison that can be made would be the FA*400 f/5.6 or perhaps the manual focus Pentax-A 400mm f/5.6. The FA*400 comes up very infrequently and is usually over $2,000. I looked for over a year and never found one.

The DA*300 f/4 plus HD 1.4x RC will cost about $1,700 new, less if you can find used. But until someone who has both (unlikely) does a side by side, who knows if the IQ is comparable.

**csa** · 11-22-2014, 04:01 PM

Thanks, but there's no possibility of me ever paying that much for a lens. I'm pretty satisfied with the 55-300; at least it was affordable for me.

**jatrax** · 11-22-2014, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by csa

I'm pretty satisfied with the 55-300; at least it was affordable for me.

Yep, excellent bang for the buck. I used one for years, my wife uses it now along with her 18-135. In decent or better light it provides very good images.

**csa** · 11-22-2014, 07:50 PM

I no doubt will stick with it for a long while; but for the wildlife around me, I would like a longer reach, but longer = $$$$.

**Des** · 11-23-2014, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

The only comparison that can be made would be the FA*400 f/5.6 or perhaps the manual focus Pentax-A 400mm f/5.6. The FA*400 comes up very infrequently and is usually over $2,000. I looked for over a year and never found one.

Some affordable 400mm f5.6 primes with AF worth considering:

Sigma 400mm F5.6 APO (AF) Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database - Tele macro version with 77mm filter. Hard to find, but highly regarded and surprisingly affordable. (It started life as a competitor for the FA*400, selling for about the same price.)

Sigma 400mm F5.6 APO MC Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database - this is the older lighter version with 72mm filter. Not as well regarded as the 77mm version, but lighter, cheaper and more readily available. See these tests (Nikon mount): Sigma AF 400mm f/5.6 APO (1988-1995) / Test and Sample Images

Tokina 400mm f5.6 ATX AF Lens Reviews - Tokina Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database - said to be similar quality to the Sigma with the 72mm filter, and much better than the older Tokina SD model.

(There are also cheaper MF versions of each of these.)

It's a shame that just about all manufacturers have abandoned 400mm primes (AFAIK, the Canon EF 400mm f5.6 L USM is the only one still in production.) In long lenses (>300mm), the trend for consumers is towards zooms (e.g. Sigma 120-400, 150-500, 50-500, Tamron 150-600) and for pros longer primes (e.g. the very heavy and expensive Sigma 500 f4.5 or Pentax DA 560).

**boriscleto** · 11-23-2014, 05:00 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

The only comparison that can be made would be the FA*400 f/5.6 or perhaps the manual focus Pentax-A 400mm f/5.6. The FA*400 comes up very infrequently and is usually over $2,000. I looked for over a year and never found one.

Strangely there are currently 4 listed on eBay...

**jatrax** · 11-23-2014, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Strangely there are currently 4 listed on eBay...

That is bizarre... But, $3,130, $2,550, $2,860, $2,500. I would like to see a comparision between FA*400 and DA*300+HD 1.4x RC. But I think, based on what I have seen posted in the 300mm Plus thread the DA+HD RC combo will be as good, maybe better in some respects. And certainly less money.

**K-Three** · 11-23-2014, 07:59 PM

With the prices on the K3 now,
you can get much better results with the glass you have, and much less outlay,
I know I want longer glass for birds other wildlife, But I'm finding the ability to crop from 300 mm on the K3 is a good balance,
Not to mention easier (and more likely) to haul around.

**csa** · 11-24-2014, 12:31 PM

The K3 is out of my limit.

11-23-2014, 04:43 PM	#8
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,015	Originally posted by jatrax The only comparison that can be made would be the FA400 f/5.6 or perhaps the manual focus Pentax-A 400mm f/5.6. The FA400 comes up very infrequently and is usually over $2,000. I looked for over a year and never found one. Some affordable 400mm f5.6 primes with AF worth considering: Sigma 400mm F5.6 APO (AF) Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database - Tele macro version with 77mm filter. Hard to find, but highly regarded and surprisingly affordable. (It started life as a competitor for the FA*400, selling for about the same price.) Sigma 400mm F5.6 APO MC Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database - this is the older lighter version with 72mm filter. Not as well regarded as the 77mm version, but lighter, cheaper and more readily available. See these tests (Nikon mount): Sigma AF 400mm f/5.6 APO (1988-1995) / Test and Sample Images Tokina 400mm f5.6 ATX AF Lens Reviews - Tokina Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database - said to be similar quality to the Sigma with the 72mm filter, and much better than the older Tokina SD model. (There are also cheaper MF versions of each of these.) It's a shame that just about all manufacturers have abandoned 400mm primes (AFAIK, the Canon EF 400mm f5.6 L USM is the only one still in production.) In long lenses (>300mm), the trend for consumers is towards zooms (e.g. Sigma 120-400, 150-500, 50-500, Tamron 150-600) and for pros longer primes (e.g. the very heavy and expensive Sigma 500 f4.5 or Pentax DA 560).

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11-22-2014, 12:24 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Nice shots, oddly I thought K10D as soon as I saw the picture. Something about that sensor is still amazing. Don't completely write off a 1.4x TC. The new Pentax HD 1.4x TC is by many reports excellent and does produce better images than cropping. But auto-focus will be marginal with the 55-300 and of course it is quite expensive. Just wanted to point out not all TCs are created equal. Last edited by photolady95; 11-22-2014 at 03:28 PM. Reason: fixed typo

11-22-2014, 02:44 PM	#3
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,097 Original Poster	Yes, I'm very impressed with the K10D! I don't know how expensive that new TC would be, but I'd probably be better off getting a dedicated lens, 400?

11-22-2014, 03:56 PM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by csa Yes, I'm very impressed with the K10D! I don't know how expensive that new TC would be, but I'd probably be better off getting a dedicated lens, 400? Until I got the TC I would have said the same, now I am not so sure. Since there are no modern 400mm primes for Pentax I guess it is hard to really say. The only comparison that can be made would be the FA400 f/5.6 or perhaps the manual focus Pentax-A 400mm f/5.6. The FA400 comes up very infrequently and is usually over $2,000. I looked for over a year and never found one. The DA*300 f/4 plus HD 1.4x RC will cost about $1,700 new, less if you can find used. But until someone who has both (unlikely) does a side by side, who knows if the IQ is comparable.

11-22-2014, 04:01 PM	#5
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,097 Original Poster	Thanks, but there's no possibility of me ever paying that much for a lens. I'm pretty satisfied with the 55-300; at least it was affordable for me.

11-22-2014, 04:36 PM	#6
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by csa I'm pretty satisfied with the 55-300; at least it was affordable for me. Yep, excellent bang for the buck. I used one for years, my wife uses it now along with her 18-135. In decent or better light it provides very good images.

11-22-2014, 07:50 PM	#7
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,097 Original Poster	I no doubt will stick with it for a long while; but for the wildlife around me, I would like a longer reach, but longer = $$$$.

11-23-2014, 05:00 PM	#9
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,245	Originally posted by jatrax The only comparison that can be made would be the FA400 f/5.6 or perhaps the manual focus Pentax-A 400mm f/5.6. The FA400 comes up very infrequently and is usually over $2,000. I looked for over a year and never found one. Strangely there are currently 4 listed on eBay...

11-23-2014, 07:52 PM	#10
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by boriscleto Strangely there are currently 4 listed on eBay... That is bizarre... But, $3,130, $2,550, $2,860, $2,500. I would like to see a comparision between FA400 and DA300+HD 1.4x RC. But I think, based on what I have seen posted in the 300mm Plus thread the DA+HD RC combo will be as good, maybe better in some respects. And certainly less money.

11-23-2014, 07:59 PM	#11
K-Three Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pugetopolis, WA Photos: Gallery Posts: 799	With the prices on the K3 now, you can get much better results with the glass you have, and much less outlay, I know I want longer glass for birds other wildlife, But I'm finding the ability to crop from 300 mm on the K3 is a good balance, Not to mention easier (and more likely) to haul around.

11-24-2014, 12:31 PM	#12
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,097 Original Poster	The K3 is out of my limit.

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