[skierd]

I want to add some reach to my photo bag. Right now my longest lens is the da18-135 WR, and after shooting the Iditarod start this spring I really want something longer. WR type lenses are definitely preferred. Mostly looking to shoot more dog races, motocross in the summer, auto and motorcycle races in the summer, possible bringing it with me hunting this fall.

Just from Pentax I've got 4 choices: HD 55-300 WR, DA* 60-250 f4, and the new 70-200 and 150-450! The latter two are really out of my price range so that helps a little. The other choice that interests me is the traditional tamron 70-200 f2.8. Body is a k-30 that'll probably get upgraded to a k-3ii this fall, or the full frame next fall (I have no problem selling off aps-c lenses if that happens).

That still leaves 3 choices between the da55-300, the 60-250, and a 3rd party 70-200 f2.8. Given my uses above, what would you shoot with?

[Venom3300]

are primes an option? the DA*300 with or without a 1.4 TC

[skierd]

I've never really considered a tele prime, I think I'll miss the flexibility of a zoom given the variety of what I'm trying to shoot. I can be convinced though, and do prefer primes in the normal/wide ranges.

[AquaDome]

HD DA55-300 hits your list in the sweet spot. You could go longer, but not with WR on a budget. IQ is good (better than other 300mm zooms I have tried). I regret selling mine.

[Driline]

The other choice that interests me is the traditional tamron 70-200 f2.8

That's the one I'd choose if I was shooting fast moving sports. Add a teleconverter later for even more reach of you need it.

[nomadkng]

I want to add some reach to my photo bag. Right now my longest lens is the da18-135 WR, and after shooting the Iditarod start this spring I really want something longer. WR type lenses are definitely preferred. Mostly looking to shoot more dog races, motocross in the summer, auto and motorcycle races in the summer, possible bringing it with me hunting this fall.

Just from Pentax I've got 4 choices: HD 55-300 WR, DA* 60-250 f4, and the new 70-200 and 150-450! The latter two are really out of my price range so that helps a little. The other choice that interests me is the traditional tamron 70-200 f2.8. Body is a k-30 that'll probably get upgraded to a k-3ii this fall, or the full frame next fall (I have no problem selling off aps-c lenses if that happens).

That still leaves 3 choices between the da55-300, the 60-250, and a 3rd party 70-200 f2.8. Given my uses above, what would you shoot with?

The DA55-300 is not in the same league as the other two IQ OR focus speed wise, it's just not. Both myself and my GF at one point owned a 55-300 and quickly donated it to another photog on a budget. She's only been shooting for a year and quickly realized it's limitations. Bang for your bucket is not part of the equation here if you are looking at $700-1000 lenses, so cross the 55-300 off your list.

The 60-250 is SDM which is quiet but not always the fastest focusing. It's also not truly FF compatible so if you do take the plunge you'd be replacing it anyway. The Tamron is probably the fastest focusing of the group and IQ on par with 60-250, It's full frame and a couple hundred cheaper. But it's not WR, so you trade slightly less focusing speed for WR if you go with the 60-250. So do you want FF compatible and fastest focusing? or WR and 50mm extra reach plus $200 more out of your pocket? You can also try to find one of 2 discontinued Sigma lenses, if you want more choices, but they aren't weather sealed either, the 70-200 or 100-300 F4.

Personally, I'd go old school WR and put a plastic garbage bag over my Tamron 70-200 when shooting the Iditarod. You could even get an underwater housing for a couple hundred if you wanted to go overkill. Would cover both camera AND lens. I'd personally want the FF compatibility and the faster focus speeds, especially for motocross.

[crewl1]

Other Sigma lens choices if you are Ok with using a raincoat are the 150-500 or 50-500.

[Dlanor Sekao]

And although not mentioned here....the SMC "F" 70-210 if on a really tight budget ........ you may want to try it out for about $65 !

[pearsaab]

Another nice choice is you can find it is the Sigma 100-300 F4

[reeftool]

I shoot a lot of motorcycle races. Mostly flat track. Dirt track in summer and in the ice in winter. For the winter ice racing, my lens of choice is a K300/4. Yep, a MF lens! The reason is, large clouds of snow and ice are generated once the races get under way and the AF just can't lock. So I set up at a corner where the wind isn't blowing all the debris right at me, get my focus set because I'm at a position where the bikes are horizontal to me and I fire away. Dirt can have similar issues with dust clouds interfering with AF. I haven't done any motocross. I have also been very successful using a Sigma 70-300.

For the racing I shoot, 200mm is too short a lot of the time. A 70-200 has it's value and if you can afford one plus a longer zoom or prime, by all means get one. I'm a track photographer so I can get in as close as I want but I prefer not to be in close all that much. Of the lenses you listed, I would opt for the DA 55-300 WR. It's physically smaller and lighter and much better for hand holding. I'll now bring up another reason why I shoot a lot with a manual lens. In the cold winter racing season, my Sigma lenses with the HSM motors begin to become unreliable in temperatures below 15F for extended periods. I have a 17-70 and a 150-500 and both would refuse to focus and would become slow after a couple of hours outside. Whether the motors put extra drain on the battery or something internal in the lenses is dragging, I just can't keep them out in the cold. I have shot hundreds of shots outside in below 0 weather with screw drive lenses and of course MF draws almost nothing.

That said, the Sigma 150-500 is awesome in less extreme conditions and you may never venture out into northern winters. I used it one day in the mid 20's last winter and the results were very good. I plan to shoot with it a lot this summer with the first flat track races just a month away. At a lot of the summer races I go to, the 2 big Sigmas are very popular. Unfortunately, it appears that the 150-500 has been discontinued in K mount but the 50-500 is still available.

[skierd]

The cold weather use is very important to me actually, as I shoot just as much in winter as I do in summer. Winter here of course means -20*F or 40 degrees colder than you experienced problems at most of the time. Maybe it's better to go with a Tamron 70-200 or an older sigma without HSM? Also important because I've been considering a 24-70 f2.8 Sigma too for close up work too. I actually managed some decent shots with the MF 80-300 slow zoom I had this winter at the Iditarod, but I just can't see if I've gotten focus most of the time. If I went MF, I'd have to get a split prism screen too.


x-brand 70-200, DA*300, and the HD 1.4x TC for das uber kit? I think my wallet just horse kicked me.