[Squawk]

Which one would you choose for the K3 II?

[Adam]

Depends on what you plan on shooting. The convenience of a zoom is nice for events and the like.

[MJSfoto1956]

I can't comment on this. But my "go to" long lens setup is a DA* 60-250mm, FA* 300mm f/4.5, 1.4x HD Rear Converter. Not a bad setup.

Michael

[jpzk]

Which one would you choose for the K3 II?

Hard decision?
A little searching here on this forum will likely yield quite a load of information !

JP

[VoiceOfReason]

After seeing how it compares I am really tempted to see what happens around Black Friday on the 150-450 since it seems to work well with the 1.4 converter and keeps things AW. I also wanted to see if anyone will release a 150-600 in Pentax mount though.

[Imp]

150-600

please yes! Sigma contemporary version, $1000

[normhead]

The Pentax 150-450 us ƒ5.6, raw DA*300 ƒ4 with TC is ƒ5.6.
The Sigma 150-600 is F6.3.
Personally, my suspicion is that you can't use a TC with a lens over 5.6. The AF becomes slow and inaccurate.
The 150-450 with the 1.4 TC is 630 and ƒ8, I have used setups going to ƒ9.3 and they perform poorly.
So technically, the Pentax gives you more light, and the possibility of more reach. That will help avoid complications.

Check out the charts...
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-hd-pentax-d-fa-150-450mm-f-4-5-5-6...w-review-27359
Testing as excellent means it will be fine with a TC, and images posted on the forum suggest that will be true.

The 150-450 "Seems to be the biggest and heaviest amongst the peer but the MTF diagrams look best, too."

Using the charts in Line Pairs per millimetre (LP/mm) the Pentax looks like it should provide possibly a bit more resolution both with or without the 1.4 TC over say a 150-600. (Sigma 150-600 numbers on the far right.)



The DA*300 tested on Photozone doesn't look as good as the 150-450, but, that's just a guess. They don't do MTF charts the same way on photozone.

So if money is no object, I'd go with the D FA 150-450 and 1.4 TC. If that's too much, the Sigma 50-500 is quite a way behind, while the Sigma 150-500 might be the best of the bunch.... certainly the best bargain for the money. You might want to switch brands for the 150-600, but, you aren't getting better than the 150-450, maybe equal.

So in short, the ƒ5.3 of the 150-450 is going to cost you, but, depending on your circumstances, it may be worth it, especially if you plan to use a TC. IN that case the ƒ6.3 of the other lenses will cause you problems.

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Last edited by normhead; 09-29-2015 at 07:41 PM.

[Sandy Hancock]

The DA*300 fits in either of my camera bags, as does the teleconverter of course. The 150-450 would not. I have no intention of getting a bigger bag, so for me the decision is easy.

[reeftool]

The DA 300 will perform better in lower light and is very good wide open. Adding a TC kind if takes that edge away. If you need the reach, go for the zoom. I have the Sigma 150-500 and I'm very happy with it although it's a beast of a lens to carry around. I also have a K300/4 and it isn't any lighter. It's hard to beat the versatility of a good zoom which is the reason I bought the Sigma and not the DA 300.

[Craig66]

I guess it depends if you want a zoom, or prime/fixed length and costs. The DA*300 gives you 450mmF4 and 630mm @F5.6 with 1.4xTC. The 150-450mm = 225-675mmF4.5-5.6 Going off the stats the 150-450 would be around twice the weight of the 300
Not sue the cost where you are. But in Australia DA*300F4 is from $1350. to $1500. 1.4X TC = $560. to $640. The 150-450mm is $2799 to $2900.


For me it would be the 300F4 with a TC. The price of the 150-450mm is just to much. It would have to be a great lens for me to drop $3000. on one lens.. I'm sure it is a very good lens. But $3000. good ???

[Billk]

I love the 300mm. It is a great focal length on APS-C for birds in flight and other moving animals. You can hand hold it without too much trouble. (It may or may not be useable as a FF lens with just a touch of vignetting - we'll find out soon enough).


The 1.4TC with the 300mm gives you extra reach when you need it but 420mm is long for hand holding and best on a sturdy tripod.


I agree with Adam that the zoom gives you versatility but the prime and TC combo has its own form of versatility if you are mostly wanting plenty of reach.

[noelpolar]

I've been shooting with the 150-450 for about two weeks now....... before that mostly F*300/4.5 occasionally with a 1.4 Kenko TC. I really love my F*300/4.5.

I tend to walk through nature looking for interesting things to shoot. For me, the 150-450 has no competition from the 300 with or without a TC for this type of use.

For me, the size of the 150-450 is not that significant, on a sling strap I walk for hours in the bush without a concern..... can lift it to my eye single handed (54yo unfit male.... but reasonably strong).... and shoot at 450mm free hand no issues (normal common sense)......

For holding it up for long periods (>4-5 minutes) awaiting for something to happen a mono pod is a must.

My F*300 will go with me in a smaller bag when I'm just generally shooting.... the 150-450 isn't a "just take it along as well lens".... but living in a rural area I see the 150-450 becoming my used lens.

So I reckon, for small size and lower price....the 300...... for flexability and reach .... both short and long the 150-450 easy.

Add the TC to the 300 and strike lower price somewhat. IQ on both is high enough I reckon not to be the deciding factor.

Finally....getiing all of them is a pretty good solution..... but risks death by wife.

cant do these with a 300....

At 190 mm


Dog in a Domke.jpg by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

at 150mm


Oscar in the Mist.jpg by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

Now when I go wildlife/nature shooting..... K3 on sling with 150-450 and small domke bag with K5II and 15, 31 & 77.

[Billk]

I've been shooting with the 150-450 for about two weeks now....... before that mostly F*300/4.5 occasionally with a 1.4 Kenko TC.

I tend to walk through nature looking for interesting things to shoot. For me, the 150-450 has no competition from the 300 with or without a TC for this type of use.

Being able to zoom in to 150mm without changing lenses would be sweet!


Do you usually have it on a monopod or usually HH?

[noelpolar]

Being able to zoom in to 150mm without changing lenses would be sweet!


Do you usually have it on a monopod or usually HH?

Usually HH..... I only bought a Siriu mono pod for it a week or so ago. ( Sirui P-326 Carbon Fiber Monopod BSRP326 B&H Photo Video ) using the ball head off my Sirui tripod....now probally 70/30 hh/monopod

Generally I use the monopod for having the camera ready without excessive movement rather then getting a steady shot.

I'm a bit weird though..... when shooting whales or something like that..... most people will be on a high point with their 600's and a fancy tripod...... I'll be waste deep in the water with my K3 and 150-450.

[biz-engineer]

For someone who does not already have the DA*300, and unless the weight of the DFA150-450 is a problem, the DFA150-450 is, in my opinion, a better choice: better AF and flexibility (not need to mount and unmount the TC). I already have the DA*300+TC combo and it works quite well, light weight, good image quality, and similar light gathering vs DFA 150-450. But the K-3 (and K-5) + DA300 + TC, AF spot sometimes does not lock with that combo. Also, on my K-3, AFC tracking with more than 9 point with DA*300+TC gets lost back to near focus when there is not good contrast of the a focus target located at a distance (it is not random, I can reproduce this at wish...). I'm pretty sure that all K-3 AFC tracking modes work fine with the DFA150-450.