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05-07-2015, 02:20 AM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by zzeitg Quote
Your zoo shots are amazing, mtux!!! Now this DA560 is tempting me even more... Do you still own this lens?
Thanks a lot.
I never owned it, as mentioned above, it was a Pentax Malaysia's representative who brought it to the event, and I was the only person who tried it.

05-07-2015, 03:19 AM   #17
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QuoteOriginally posted by mtux Quote
Thanks a lot.
I never owned it, as mentioned above, it was a Pentax Malaysia's representative who brought it to the event, and I was the only person who tried it.


I see... Was it difficult to part with it and pass it back to the Pentax guy?

05-07-2015, 05:25 AM - 1 Like   #18
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For me, when you consider a super tele, whether it be the FA 600/4, the DA 560/5.6 or the Sigma APO 500/4.5 there are two important factors that determine the real usefulness in the field.

these are Minimum focusing distance and weight. the difference of 1 stop at maximum aperture is somewhat marginal, for the lens on its own, but i admit that if you wish to add a 1.4x TC, this could be something that would make you exclude the DA560.

Lets look at the 3 lenses to see how they stack up.

FA 600/4, MFD = 5 meters weight = 6.83 kilos
DA 560/5.6 , MFD = 5.6 meters weight = 3.04 kilos
Sigma APO 500/4.5 , MFD = 4 meters weight = 3.15 kilos

For me, considering hand holding capability, either the DA560 or the sigma 500 come up equal. i can imagine holding either of these to get a shot, considering my present 70-200/2.8 plus 2x TC weighs in at about 2 kilos. Adding an additional kilo, is not all that bad, but adding an additional almost 5 kilos to go to the FA 600 is out of the question.

What would push me towards the Sigma over the DFA560 are the close focus, because i can see for small birds etc, getting 1.6 meters closer is possible, and also the additional speed to allow a 1.4x TC.

As for the absolute speed, I think that the low light/high ISO capabilities, since at least the release of the K5, have eliminated the absolute need for a super fast tele.

the following shot, i believe illustrates this point (ISO 6400 on the K5)



and by the way, this is a non cropped shot, so yes, i was pretty close

this is a JPEG right out of the camera, and it looks much better with simple sharpening, contrast boost and noise reduction, but I prefer to just show the JPEG here as a starting point. who reall needs F4 at 600mm
05-07-2015, 08:51 AM   #19
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I have owned a FA*600/4 before.
Now I am using a DA560/f5.6; if you ask me which lens I would prefer, I would say DA560 because of its weight.
You may find some of my FA*600/4 photo samples in my PentaxPhotoGallery/PeterLee for reference.
Whilst my recent pics of DA560 could be seen the link below
http://www.dchome.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1293741&extra=page%3D1
http://www.dchome.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1293745&extra=

I myself prefer DA560 is because I think its cropping ability (resolving power) is even better than FA*600/4.

05-07-2015, 09:05 AM   #20
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Have you thought of the new D-FA 150-450mm with a 1.4TC?
Save a bundle and WR.
My dream at least.
05-07-2015, 09:18 AM   #21
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QuoteOriginally posted by Mark K5 Quote
Have you thought of the new D-FA 150-450mm with a 1.4TC?
The AF won't work with DFA 150-450 + 1.4 TC.
The Tamron 150-600 would be great , no need of a TC, no heavier than the Pentax HD 150-450, but does not exist in K mount.

Last edited by biz-engineer; 05-07-2015 at 09:29 AM.
05-07-2015, 09:23 AM   #22
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QuoteOriginally posted by biz-engineer Quote
The AF won't work with DFA 150-450 + 1.4 TC.
And you know this how?

05-07-2015, 09:30 AM - 1 Like   #23
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QuoteOriginally posted by mtux Quote
I've used the DA560mm once in a zoo. and found it superb in quality and reach right from wide open, it was an overcast day with light rain so even though the f/4 would have been more useful in terms of light gathering and exposure, the WR feature was more useful to give me (and the owner) peace of mind to use it under rain. and yes I managed to get some hand held shots with it (Not to forget the pain on my left hand the day after).
In case you were interested, Here you can find some of the shots I've shared on flickr.
Loved those shots, MTUX!
05-07-2015, 09:48 AM   #24
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QuoteOriginally posted by boriscleto Quote
And you know this how?
From Ricoh website, 1.4x HD rear converter specifications, Ricoh statement "Autofocus is possible with a PENTAX lens having maximum aperture of f/4 or brighter."
05-07-2015, 09:57 AM   #25
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QuoteOriginally posted by biz-engineer Quote
The AF won't work with DFA 150-450 + 1.4 TC.
The Tamron 150-600 would be great , no need of a TC, no heavier than the Pentax HD 150-450, but does not exist in K mount.
QuoteOriginally posted by boriscleto Quote
And you know this how?
QuoteOriginally posted by biz-engineer Quote
From Ricoh website, 1.4x HD rear converter specifications, Ricoh statement "Autofocus is possible with a PENTAX lens having maximum aperture of f/4 or brighter."
I think you need someone to look at the real world, not just the specification.

The Pentax site also states the old 1.7x AF converter is only for lenses F2.8 and faster, but even in the days of relatively poor AF(my PZ1) it worked on F 4 lenses.

I think some people have tested it on slower lenses than F4. But the general thinking is you need a native / combined aperture better than about F6.9 to get reliable AF in moderate light.
05-07-2015, 10:00 AM   #26
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The 1.4x converter will work with the 55-300 @F/5.8. It will work with the 150-450 @F/5.6. It is also known to work with the DA 560 @F/5.6. F/4 in the specs is just CYA.
05-07-2015, 10:03 AM   #27
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QuoteOriginally posted by Lowell Goudge Quote
I think you need someone to look at the real world, not just the specification.
Sure, I've tested the AF with 2 1.4x rear converters stacked on f4 lens and f2.8 lens. With f2.8 lenses (=> f5.6) , the AF works correctly. With f4 lenses (=>f8), the AF does not work. Practice meet what Pentax wrote.
You can try to be sure.
05-07-2015, 10:28 AM   #28
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QuoteOriginally posted by biz-engineer Quote
Sure, I've tested the AF with 2 1.4x rear converters stacked on f4 lens and f2.8 lens. With f2.8 lenses (=> f5.6) , the AF works correctly. With f4 lenses (=>f8), the AF does not work. Practice meet what Pentax wrote.
You can try to be sure.
no not true

2 stacked TCs is not the same as a single 1.4x TC on an F5.6 lens,. and it may or may not have an impact. I have, however achieved focus with a stacked 1.4x and a 2x on my sigma 70-200/2.8 but it is not great,. there are others who have put a 1.7x on an F4.5 and had AF work, so it really needs to be tested to be sure.
05-07-2015, 10:41 AM   #29
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QuoteOriginally posted by boriscleto Quote
The 1.4x converter will work with the 55-300 @F/5.8. It will work with the 150-450 @F/5.6. It is also known to work with the DA 560 @F/5.6. F/4 in the specs is just CYA.
Not sure...

---------- Post added 07-05-15 at 19:43 ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by Lowell Goudge Quote
so it really needs to be tested to be sure.
Tested already...

Last edited by biz-engineer; 05-07-2015 at 10:50 AM.
05-07-2015, 10:54 AM   #30
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Well actually there is already someone who has bot 1.4 tc and 150-450 lens. It works, but as he said result is not as good as with DA*300. Sharpnes vise. How can that be then? If it does not work.
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