[max_pyne]

SMC Pentax 135- 600 mm 1:6.7 or any of the 500mm 1:4.5 (Tak, M, K)
with what would you go?
the zoom i can get from a local guy for about 600 USD the primes vary between 200 - 949 USD and are available on ebay.
what is better?
I like to do some wildlife and have a FA*400 and DA* 300.
I'm feared from the size and weight of the 135 - 600mm.

Or a bigma?
no budget for the FA* 600mm listed on ebay :-)

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Last edited by max_pyne; 04-27-2015 at 07:41 AM.

[boriscleto]

None of them will be all that good. You already have 2 much better lenses. Get the 1.4x TC and use it with either one.

[zzeitg]

no budget for the FA* 600mm listed on ebay :-)

I have to admit that I was wrong when I expected that the FA*600 listed on ebay will be gone quickly. I know that it's old(er) and used, but there're almost zero alternatives if you search for very long Pentax prime with AF support.
Anyway... no budget for this lens and the fact that I'd have to count approx. with 30-33% extra (customs, VAT) doesn't make it easier.


So in my opinion DA*300 + 1.4xTC is the longest affordable solution nowadays.
You mention that you own FA*400 as well - I'd judge that this lens might still work with the TC, at least in sunny days.

[max_pyne]

I have to admit that I was wrong when I expected that the FA*600 listed on ebay will be gone quickly. I know that it's old(er) and used, but there're almost zero alternatives if you search for very long Pentax prime with AF support. Anyway... no budget for this lens and the fact that I'd have to count approx. with 30-33% extra (customs, VAT) doesn't make it easier.

I would love to own this lens paying almost 8k is just too much for a hobby... not that i have not spent that much money on lenses + cameras yet but i would need to sell a loot of gear to justify it...

[zzeitg]

I would love to own this lens paying almost 8k is just too much for a hobby... not that i have not spent that much money on lenses + cameras yet but i would need to sell a loot of gear to justify it...

I'm not good in selling gear. So far I'm only accumulating it...

[max_pyne]

I'm not good in selling gear. So far I'm only accumulating it...

same is true for me...:-)

[boriscleto]

I'm still waiting for my tripod collar for the Pentax Adapter Q. I want to use my M 75-150/4 as a 412-825/4

[max_pyne]

I have a Q-7 i could couple with the FA or DA

[boriscleto]

I have a Q-7 i could couple with the FA or DA

You need a good gimbal tripod head. I've tried the Sigma 150-500 with the Q-10 and it is very hard to use with a ball head...

[opel3nix]

Be prepared to work hard for good results! Ihave both, the Takumar 500 4.5, which shows purple fringing wide open, but is sharp and clear when stopped down. A good tripod and a steady head is necessery. The 135-600 ist very sharp at 600mm from the beginning, but heavy and very unballanced. You will need a long lensplate and a gimbal head to get the lens halfway ballanced. Otherwise it's a great experience to work with old big pentax glas! When you are used to it, you will get very satisfying results, imo better than expected. I use lots of old pentax glas for daily photography and i don't miss autofocus for my way of shooting anyway. Using manuell lenses slows workflow down but helps me to think about my doing!
If you got the money, give the 135-600 a try! It is advertised at tutti.ch, right? All with alloy case and close up lens, you will not regret it!

[Stavri]

I like to do some wildlife and have a FA*400 and DA* 300.

Can't get much better in terms of IQ than what you already have.....

You could sell the FA* 400/f5.6 and get the new 150-450 lens, it seems to be really good at the long end and the loss in IQ with the 1.4x TC seems minimal. My other advice would be to use what you already have for a few more years, wait for the rumored 300mm f2.8 to be released in 2016-17 and sell both your lenses and buy the D-FA* 300/f2.8

p.s i second the gimbal head suggestion...

[max_pyne]

If you got the money, give the 135-600 a try! It is advertised at tutti.ch, right? All with alloy case and close up lens, you will not regret it!

exactly, thats the one...

[opel3nix]

One thing with the 135-600 you have to keep in mind: It is a one touch zoom and focus lens. Zooming is done by pushing the rubber coated barrel forward and backward. This will not increase the lenght of the lens. But focussing will do! While turning the barrel for focussing the lens extends and also turns the front. This is a little flaw when it comes to propper support. First i made a long lens plate of 40 cm, fixed to the tripod collar and supporting the lens near the front. But this support has to work in two directions: supporting the lens when it extends and allowing the lens to turn! Difficult to made! My solution makes focussing a bit stiff. So i changed my setup to a heavy plate of 20cm, letting the lens front free in the air and supporting the lens from the back by fixing camera and lens on one plate. This is better to handle, but i think it will cause more vibrations in my setup. You see, i am still learning to get the best out of it! It's a challenge, but i like this!

[GeneV]

Can't get much better in terms of IQ than what you already have.....

You could sell the FA* 400/f5.6 and get the new 150-450 lens, it seems to be really good at the long end and the loss in IQ with the 1.4x TC seems minimal. My other advice would be to use what you already have for a few more years, wait for the rumored 300mm f2.8 to be released in 2016-17 and sell both your lenses and buy the D-FA* 300/f2.8

I have the SMC Tak 500 plus the A 1.4x-L rear converter. It is relatively inexpensive and does very well (does need a gimbal but I've gotten a large ball to work) but I don't think I would bother with it if I had the FA*400 and a good TC.

[Lowell Goudge]

I have another lens that might be of interest. Tamron 200-500/5.6. adaptall II

So far with my experiments it is sharp, but like the 135-600 very unbalanced. I use it with a gimbal head and 4inch lens plate, and with this it balances well, the 135-600 should be the same. I would expect a large portion of purple fringing with the 135-600.

Also you need to consider the 500mm lenses don't focus below about 11 meters so they are not for close ups. The 135-600 comes with a close focus lens, because it too does not focus close.

My Tammy which is much newer focuses to 2.5 meters. Something to think sbout