Budget 300 mm prime

**Knock** · 05-13-2016, 07:00 AM

I'm looking around for an older 300 mm prime (m42 fits my budget best). I'm a fan of Takumar lenses--I love their color rendition, contrast, and punch. It looks like the SMC Tak 300 mm/f4 is just what I'm looking for at ~$150. I've seen other brand lenses available at about the same price (or cheaper). Does anyone have any advice to offer about the makinon 300/f4, soligor tele-auto 300/f4.5, komrua 300/f4.5, sears (tokina?) 300/f5.5, or any other lenses worth owning? Thanks!

**pepperberry farm** · 05-13-2016, 07:06 AM

what camera body will you be using?

**Quartermaster James** · 05-13-2016, 07:16 AM

Okay, it's not a prime, but you can just leave it at 300!
Sigma 75-300mm F4-5.6 DL Macro Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
I think I paid around $15 for mine.

**marcusBMG** · 05-13-2016, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by Knock

SMC Tak 300 mm/f4

+1
Alts: pentacon/meyer 300mm f4 (con: size and weight - made for pentacon 6); Tair 3/3S/3A; olympus 300mm f4.5 (force fit or rejig OM mount).

Originally posted by Knock

makinon 300/f4, soligor tele-auto 300/f4.5, komrua 300/f4.5

these faster generic 300's not worth the discount over the tak IMO. Most are average, some mediocre.

Originally posted by Knock

sears/ vivitar/soligor (tokina?) 300/f5.5

Prefer the Tamron adaptamatic or adaptall 300mm f5.6's to any of these. In particular the close focus distance on the old style 300's is very limiting.

Mostly these suggestions will do better at 300mm than a x-300mm consumer zoom, but some of those do very well. Pot luck figuring out which! And the other thing is your budget is in range of a S/H DA/DAL 55-300mm which IS competitive at 300mm with most of these primes.

Last edited by marcusBMG; 05-13-2016 at 03:01 PM.

**Knock** · 05-13-2016, 07:45 AM

Thanks for the responses. I'm using a k30. I'm leaning towards the tak...it seems every time that I get a lens that is not a tak, I'm left wishing I would have gotten the tak...

**grahame** · 05-13-2016, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by Knock

I'm leaning towards the tak

The pre-set version is great. Much less CA than K 300mm, and renders blue very beautifully!

Sagitta · 05-13-2016, 09:02 AM

I have a Sears-branded 300mm f/5.6 thats actually just an RMC Tokina with a different name on it. Its K-mount, but it certainly fits the bill for what you're looking for.

Boer1974 · 05-13-2016, 09:09 AM

What about Tair? Cheap and sharp!
TAIR-3S 300mm F4.5 - Fotosniper 12 ensemble Lens Reviews - Russian and Zenitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

**Quartermaster James** · 05-13-2016, 09:18 AM

I don't know what your time frame is, but I do have a K-30 and an M42 300/f4, as well as the previously mentioned Sigma, and would be happy to take and post some samples, but I won't be able to do so until later in the month.

**pepperberry farm** · 05-13-2016, 09:24 AM

I do like my K/300 as a budget 300mm prime, but I like my A/400 even better.... and there's a Tamron 55BB (500mm mirror) lens on the way that I will be evaluating soon...

**mattb123** · 05-13-2016, 09:27 AM - **1 Like**

If you don't mind a big bulky lens the old 67 300/4s are pretty nice and inexpensive. You would of course need a 67 to K adapter.
I use the SMC 67 version on my 645D. It was $169 via eBay and performs well. With a crop sensor it would probably do even better. There is also a M* version that is probably a little better and a little more money.

Piotrek K · 05-13-2016, 01:38 PM - **5 Likes**

+1 for SMC Tak

..but I feel my Tamron SP-Adaptall-2 (60-300 3.-5.4) has better sharpness.

Simen1 · 05-13-2016, 02:24 PM

Tamron also have a couple of other Adaptall lenses with good value:
Tamron Adaptall ( Chinon ) 300mm f/5.6 (1st version and CT-300) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
Tamron Adaptall-2 300mm f/5.6 (54B) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

The prices fluctuate a lot so look out for a good bargain

05-13-2016, 07:00 AM	#1
Knock Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Montgomery, AL Posts: 467	Budget 300 mm prime I'm looking around for an older 300 mm prime (m42 fits my budget best). I'm a fan of Takumar lenses--I love their color rendition, contrast, and punch. It looks like the SMC Tak 300 mm/f4 is just what I'm looking for at ~$150. I've seen other brand lenses available at about the same price (or cheaper). Does anyone have any advice to offer about the makinon 300/f4, soligor tele-auto 300/f4.5, komrua 300/f4.5, sears (tokina?) 300/f5.5, or any other lenses worth owning? Thanks!

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05-13-2016, 07:06 AM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,643	what camera body will you be using?

05-13-2016, 07:16 AM	#3
Quartermaster James Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 653	Okay, it's not a prime, but you can just leave it at 300! Sigma 75-300mm F4-5.6 DL Macro Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database I think I paid around $15 for mine.

05-13-2016, 07:20 AM	#4
marcusBMG Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: North Wales Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,868	Originally posted by Knock SMC Tak 300 mm/f4 +1 Alts: pentacon/meyer 300mm f4 (con: size and weight - made for pentacon 6); Tair 3/3S/3A; olympus 300mm f4.5 (force fit or rejig OM mount). Originally posted by Knock makinon 300/f4, soligor tele-auto 300/f4.5, komrua 300/f4.5 these faster generic 300's not worth the discount over the tak IMO. Most are average, some mediocre. Originally posted by Knock sears/ vivitar/soligor (tokina?) 300/f5.5 Prefer the Tamron adaptamatic or adaptall 300mm f5.6's to any of these. In particular the close focus distance on the old style 300's is very limiting. Mostly these suggestions will do better at 300mm than a x-300mm consumer zoom, but some of those do very well. Pot luck figuring out which! And the other thing is your budget is in range of a S/H DA/DAL 55-300mm which IS competitive at 300mm with most of these primes. Last edited by marcusBMG; 05-13-2016 at 03:01 PM.

05-13-2016, 07:45 AM	#5
Knock Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Montgomery, AL Posts: 467 Original Poster	Thanks for the responses. I'm using a k30. I'm leaning towards the tak...it seems every time that I get a lens that is not a tak, I'm left wishing I would have gotten the tak...

05-13-2016, 08:49 AM	#6
grahame Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,041	Originally posted by Knock I'm leaning towards the tak The pre-set version is great. Much less CA than K 300mm, and renders blue very beautifully!

05-13-2016, 09:02 AM	#7
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	I have a Sears-branded 300mm f/5.6 thats actually just an RMC Tokina with a different name on it. Its K-mount, but it certainly fits the bill for what you're looking for.

05-13-2016, 09:09 AM	#8
Boer1974 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 48	What about Tair? Cheap and sharp! TAIR-3S 300mm F4.5 - Fotosniper 12 ensemble Lens Reviews - Russian and Zenitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

05-13-2016, 09:18 AM	#9
Quartermaster James Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 653	I don't know what your time frame is, but I do have a K-30 and an M42 300/f4, as well as the previously mentioned Sigma, and would be happy to take and post some samples, but I won't be able to do so until later in the month.

05-13-2016, 09:24 AM	#10
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,643	I do like my K/300 as a budget 300mm prime, but I like my A/400 even better.... and there's a Tamron 55BB (500mm mirror) lens on the way that I will be evaluating soon...

05-13-2016, 09:27 AM - 1 Like	#11
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	If you don't mind a big bulky lens the old 67 300/4s are pretty nice and inexpensive. You would of course need a 67 to K adapter. I use the SMC 67 version on my 645D. It was $169 via eBay and performs well. With a crop sensor it would probably do even better. There is also a M* version that is probably a little better and a little more money.

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05-13-2016, 01:38 PM - 5 Likes	#12
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	+1 for SMC Tak ..but I feel my Tamron SP-Adaptall-2 (60-300 3.-5.4) has better sharpness.

05-13-2016, 02:24 PM	#13
Simen1 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tromsø, Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 1,031	Tamron also have a couple of other Adaptall lenses with good value: Tamron Adaptall ( Chinon ) 300mm f/5.6 (1st version and CT-300) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database Tamron Adaptall-2 300mm f/5.6 (54B) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database The prices fluctuate a lot so look out for a good bargain