[Fl_Gulfer]

These are my choices for a telephoto lens and was wondering if you had the money for any one of them which would you choose.

Super Takumar 400mm f5.6 SMC .....$350.00 total
Super Takumar 300mm F4 SMC .......$242.00 total
Pentax DA 55-300mm f4-5.6 ...........$340.00 total
Pentax DA* 300mm f4 ..................$1056.00 total
Pentax SMC-A* 300 f4 ...................$410.00 total
Pentax Sigma K Mount 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO EX+ 400.00 total

I wanted to set up a poll but wasn't smart enough.


Thanks for everyones help
Jack

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Last edited by Fl_Gulfer; 07-27-2008 at 12:06 PM.

[8540tomg]

Jack,

If money were no object (but it always is), I would go for the DA* 300mm. The shots I've been seeing on this forum and elsewhere look great. Besides I've already got an old K 300mm f4. It's a fine lens but it's time for me to get into the new century!

Tom G

[johnsherwood]

I agree on the DA*300.......look at the number of spectacular shots with that lens on the Pentax Gallery.

I have an old m42 300mm Tele-Takumar f5.6 ( i think) and it takes lovey images, but no AF/AE etc....just depends on $$$ and what you want to shoot.

One thats not on your list is the Sigma 70-300 APO DG zoom, which I own. Its actually very good for the $$, and I would buy it again over the Pentax 55-300 ( especially now that I've tweaked the AF adjustment!! )

IMHO

[deudeu]

I would go for the A* 300. If you are used to MF (with your collection of series 1 you should be) then you don't lose much compared to the DA*... You just save $600.

[roy]

ME TOO but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
you can practically get 3 of the others for about the same price.. hmmmmmmmm

[ryan s]

If the DA300 is on your list at (easily) double the price of everything else, why this thread? Kind of like shopping for a new Benz on a used Honda budget.

It would make sense deciding among the $200-400 lenses.

[Lowell Goudge]

These are my choices for a telephoto lens and was wondering if you had the money for any one of them which would you choose.

Super Takumar 400mm f5.6 SMC .....$350.00 total
Super Takumar 300mm F4 SMC .......$242.00 total
Pentax DA 55-300mm f4-5.6 ...........$340.00 total
Pentax DA* 300mm f4 ..................$1056.00 total
Pentax SMC-A* 300 f4 ...................$410.00 total
Pentax Sigma K Mount 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO EX+ 400.00 total

I wanted to set up a poll but wasn't smart enough.


Thanks for everyones help
Jack

you have 2 options the DA* orSMC-A* 300 F4.

You save a lot by going MF, and the A lens will still give you p-ttl flash capability and auto expposure modes.

[heatherslightbox]

I'm going to be the oddball here and recommend the DA55-300, as I think it's the best bang for your buck if you don't have to have anything faster. My second choice would be the Sigma 135-400, simply because it's harder to find and is probably heavier than the 55-300.

If you had the money, then why not get both the 55-300 and the SuperTak 400?

Have you given any thought to picking up a Bigma?

I also found this one on KEH: KEH Camera: Pentax Manual Focus - Zoom Lenses - 135-600 F6.7 SMC PRESET (95) WITH FILTER, CAPS, CS, 35MM SLR MANUAL FOCUS ZOOM TELEPHOTO LENS
Here are some specs on it: K 135-600/6.7
Don't freak out too much about the 95mm filter size, as KEH also has those, too.

HTH,
Heather

[creampuff]

For a long tele, two criteria come to mind: how fast you can lock focus and image rendition. On these two counts, I would avoid the older lenses simply because at such a long focal length, auto focusing is a must have if you want to shoot animals in motion. The newer lenses have better contrast and sharpness and I think the colour rendition of the new DA*300 is very good. The DA 55-300 might be a cheap way to get 300mm but it is nothing near the quality nor ease of use compared to the DA*300.

[Rodney9]

One thats not on your list is the Sigma 70-300 APO DG zoom, which I own. Its actually very good for the $$, and I would buy it again over the Pentax 55-300 ( especially now that I've tweaked the AF adjustment!! )

IMHO

Hello,

How do you "tweak" the AF on your Sigma 70-300 APO DG zoom ?

I also have a Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG which I have been considering replacing with the Pentax smc DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED lens as my Sigma is basically useless over 200mm and I have heard and seen how good the Pentax is at 300mm.

Rodney.

[ryan s]

For a long tele, two criteria come to mind: how fast you can lock focus and image rendition. On these two counts, I would avoid the older lenses simply because at such a long focal length, auto focusing is a must have if you want to shoot animals in motion. The newer lenses have better contrast and sharpness and I think the colour rendition of the new DA*300 is very good. The DA 55-300 might be a cheap way to get 300mm but it is nothing near the quality nor ease of use compared to the DA*300.

My longest lens is AF (and my only). Is it ironic that it's manually focused 90% of the time?