The Pentax SMC 300/4

hrishi · 09-06-2008, 09:56 PM

Brilliant images Tom. keep them coming.. I think you have mastered the lens

8540tomg · 09-07-2008, 05:13 AM

Thanks Hrishi,

I don’t think I’ve mastered the lens yet. I still produce a lot of trash. I am having a lot of fun making images of these finches though.

Tom G

**pacerr** · 09-07-2008, 02:20 PM

Don't overlook the M42 Super-Tac F4 / 300mm. Build and optics are excellent and it has a detachable tripod mount and integral hood too. Haven't had time or opportunity to wring this one out but first impressions are quite nice - including using it with a Tamron 1.4 TC.

More or less permanently attached one of those low cost M42 adapters (easily modified for infinity focus) to make it into a K-mount lens. It seems to out perform my Tamron 70-300 at anything above cropped-200mm and is far more fun to use.

Picked it up for $120 at a local private sale. Also seems to have dampened my desire for a DA 50-300 - at least for a while.

H2

8540tomg · 09-07-2008, 03:41 PM

Sounds great Pacerr. Looking forward to some images from you.

Tom G

Nick1946 · 10-06-2008, 05:02 PM

Tom, hrishi,

I decided to make a lens support for this lens and try that, I actually made 2, one for the 300 alone and one for the extra length using the ProMaster 1.7 TC. I have ordered a cable release and am waiting for it to arrive so I can try some serious shooting as I have discovered I cannot handhold this lens and get any keepers.

hrishi · 10-06-2008, 07:59 PM

Excellent setup Nick, it will surely give you more keepers...Do post the images taken with this setup..

here's one shot in the Kumaon Himalayas..Did some cloning, inscreased saturation..image looks softer coz did some heavy noise reduction..the bird is Plum headed parakeet..

" target="_blank">

guess what- the orginal photo was taken at 6 Mega pixels and I did some heavy cropping to bring it to 1.17 MPs..and I still managed to get an excellent 8x10 print with it..

8540tomg · 10-07-2008, 12:30 PM

Hrishi,

That's one exotic looking bird.

Tom G

richard64 · 10-07-2008, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by hrishi

there are few flash like the Sunpak 422D which have few Auto mode which is neither ttl nor compeletely manual..All u have to set is the aperture on the flash and ISO should match that of camera and lens and it gives u corrrect exposure.

There are other flashes too. I have just bought a Pentax AF 280T (cost me £13 with tele and wide angle adapters) and this has a high and low Auto mode where the flash senses the amount of light delivered. It does TTL, and of course, my K100D does not do that, but there is some communication between flash and body because in the Auto mode with an A lens the flash will tell the camera what aperture to use. It's rated at GN 28m (high) GN 8m (low) @ ISO100.

As I've said, I've just got this flash so I am still learning how best to use it, but so far I am quite pleased with the results.

Richard

Nick1946 · 10-08-2008, 11:50 AM

I took a trip this morning over to Boxley Valley close to Ponca, AR to see the Elk along the Buffalo River. A few were out and took the following photos with the SMC K 300 F4, so far the best I have taken with this lens.

8540tomg · 10-08-2008, 01:02 PM

Nice Nick.

I guess the Elk would be heading into rutting season around now. The K 300 gives you a little margin of safety. Keep them coming. It seems there may be only 10 or so of these K 300s in the world and we are all posting in this forum.

Tom G

arthur pappas · 10-08-2008, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by hrishi

...I shoot 2nd quality 6MP jepgs..

(I know, I'm underutilizing the K10D too, but I cant buy any good memory card at the moment, use an ancient 1 gb card at the moment..)

Shoot me a PM with your full address & I'll see if I can dig up a card or two that I give to you.

Mike.P® · 10-15-2008, 06:26 AM

Just had a airplane go over the forest opposite spraying for mosquitos so grapped the Pentax-K 300mm f4, slapped on a Teleplus 2x teleconverter that I bought brand new for $20 from anoher forum and snapped off a few shots.
Quite pleased with the results, very little cropping (if any on most) and hand held.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-15-2008, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Nick1946

Tom, hrishi,

I decided to make a lens support for this lens and try that, I actually made 2, one for the 300 alone and one for the extra length using the ProMaster 1.7 TC. I have ordered a cable release and am waiting for it to arrive so I can try some serious shooting as I have discovered I cannot handhold this lens and get any keepers.

Same concept as mine, just a little "rougher"

User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous

I actually have 2 because the camera bottom plate is not the same distance from the lens centerline on my *istD and K10D.

as for hand holding, I can do it, but the only way is to push the ISO up so that I get shutter speed, (I find shake reduction helps a little) or use a flash!

Flash is great if you have an *istD or DS with TTL metering.

Nick1946 · 10-15-2008, 03:22 PM

Another Elk from last week, I couldn't back up anymore as was already on the edge of the highway and lost his feet in the photo, but got those antlers!
If it were not for that pesky work thing, I would be there at least every other day to watch them.

8540tomg · 10-15-2008, 04:02 PM

Cool shots Nick. I can appreciate the skill it took to get them.

Tom G

10-06-2008, 05:02 PM	#80
Nick1946 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NW Arkansas Photos: Gallery Posts: 130	Homemade 300 tripod mount/lens support Tom, hrishi, I decided to make a lens support for this lens and try that, I actually made 2, one for the 300 alone and one for the extra length using the ProMaster 1.7 TC. I have ordered a cable release and am waiting for it to arrive so I can try some serious shooting as I have discovered I cannot handhold this lens and get any keepers. Last edited by Nick1946; 03-28-2009 at 06:16 AM.

10-07-2008, 12:44 PM	#83
richard64 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 309	Originally posted by hrishi there are few flash like the Sunpak 422D which have few Auto mode which is neither ttl nor compeletely manual..All u have to set is the aperture on the flash and ISO should match that of camera and lens and it gives u corrrect exposure. There are other flashes too. I have just bought a Pentax AF 280T (cost me £13 with tele and wide angle adapters) and this has a high and low Auto mode where the flash senses the amount of light delivered. It does TTL, and of course, my K100D does not do that, but there is some communication between flash and body because in the Auto mode with an A lens the flash will tell the camera what aperture to use. It's rated at GN 28m (high) GN 8m (low) @ ISO100. As I've said, I've just got this flash so I am still learning how best to use it, but so far I am quite pleased with the results. Richard Last edited by richard64; 10-07-2008 at 12:57 PM.

10-08-2008, 11:50 AM	#84
Nick1946 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NW Arkansas Photos: Gallery Posts: 130	Elk with the K 300 F4 I took a trip this morning over to Boxley Valley close to Ponca, AR to see the Elk along the Buffalo River. A few were out and took the following photos with the SMC K 300 F4, so far the best I have taken with this lens. Last edited by Nick1946; 03-28-2009 at 06:16 AM.

10-15-2008, 03:22 PM	#89
Nick1946 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NW Arkansas Photos: Gallery Posts: 130	Another Elk Another Elk from last week, I couldn't back up anymore as was already on the edge of the highway and lost his feet in the photo, but got those antlers! If it were not for that pesky work thing, I would be there at least every other day to watch them. Last edited by Nick1946; 03-28-2009 at 06:16 AM.

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09-06-2008, 09:56 PM	#76
hrishi Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pune, India Photos: Gallery Posts: 149 Original Poster	Brilliant images Tom. keep them coming.. I think you have mastered the lens

09-07-2008, 05:13 AM	#77
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Thanks Hrishi, I don’t think I’ve mastered the lens yet. I still produce a lot of trash. I am having a lot of fun making images of these finches though. Tom G

09-07-2008, 02:20 PM	#78
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,349	Don't overlook the M42 Super-Tac F4 / 300mm. Build and optics are excellent and it has a detachable tripod mount and integral hood too. Haven't had time or opportunity to wring this one out but first impressions are quite nice - including using it with a Tamron 1.4 TC. More or less permanently attached one of those low cost M42 adapters (easily modified for infinity focus) to make it into a K-mount lens. It seems to out perform my Tamron 70-300 at anything above cropped-200mm and is far more fun to use. Picked it up for $120 at a local private sale. Also seems to have dampened my desire for a DA 50-300 - at least for a while. H2

09-07-2008, 03:41 PM	#79
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Sounds great Pacerr. Looking forward to some images from you. Tom G

10-06-2008, 07:59 PM	#81
hrishi Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pune, India Photos: Gallery Posts: 149 Original Poster	Excellent setup Nick, it will surely give you more keepers...Do post the images taken with this setup.. here's one shot in the Kumaon Himalayas..Did some cloning, inscreased saturation..image looks softer coz did some heavy noise reduction..the bird is Plum headed parakeet.. " target="_blank"> guess what- the orginal photo was taken at 6 Mega pixels and I did some heavy cropping to bring it to 1.17 MPs..and I still managed to get an excellent 8x10 print with it..

10-07-2008, 12:30 PM	#82
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Hrishi, That's one exotic looking bird. Tom G

10-08-2008, 01:02 PM	#85
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Nice Nick. I guess the Elk would be heading into rutting season around now. The K 300 gives you a little margin of safety. Keep them coming. It seems there may be only 10 or so of these K 300s in the world and we are all posting in this forum. Tom G

10-08-2008, 01:53 PM	#86
arthur pappas Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 83	Originally posted by hrishi ...I shoot 2nd quality 6MP jepgs.. (I know, I'm underutilizing the K10D too, but I cant buy any good memory card at the moment, use an ancient 1 gb card at the moment..) Shoot me a PM with your full address & I'll see if I can dig up a card or two that I give to you.

10-15-2008, 06:26 AM	#87
Mike.P® Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,154	Just had a airplane go over the forest opposite spraying for mosquitos so grapped the Pentax-K 300mm f4, slapped on a Teleplus 2x teleconverter that I bought brand new for $20 from anoher forum and snapped off a few shots. Quite pleased with the results, very little cropping (if any on most) and hand held.

10-15-2008, 08:42 AM	#88
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	Originally posted by Nick1946 Tom, hrishi, I decided to make a lens support for this lens and try that, I actually made 2, one for the 300 alone and one for the extra length using the ProMaster 1.7 TC. I have ordered a cable release and am waiting for it to arrive so I can try some serious shooting as I have discovered I cannot handhold this lens and get any keepers. Same concept as mine, just a little "rougher" User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous I actually have 2 because the camera bottom plate is not the same distance from the lens centerline on my istD and K10D. as for hand holding, I can do it, but the only way is to push the ISO up so that I get shutter speed, (I find shake reduction helps a little) or use a flash! Flash is great if you have an istD or DS with TTL metering.

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10-15-2008, 04:02 PM	#90
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Cool shots Nick. I can appreciate the skill it took to get them. Tom G