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02-10-2017, 05:30 PM   #31
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QuoteOriginally posted by bertwert Quote
Pick two out of three:
  • Cheap
  • Good
  • Telephoto
Fast...
I think you can get good cheap and not fast telephotos. But not good cheap and fast ones.

02-10-2017, 05:36 PM - 1 Like   #32
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
It would be useful to see crops from the 55-300 compared to the five-star uncropped.
Here you go! (Click thru to flickr for larger size) I took a couple shots with each lens, including a magnified LiveView, and used the best one. Shot on a tripod w/ 12 second delay, each at f8, ISO500.
I don't know how clear the screen shots will show it, but Tou Five Star is clearly better in this controlled shoot. The SuperTak is next, followed closely by the DAL 55-300. The only thing is that I can usually get more keepers with the DAL 55-300 because its autofocus is often better than my manual focus.

Comparison of 3 lenses; each at 500ISO, f8
TouFiveStar at 60% center crop; others at 100%
Tou FIVE STAR 500mm f8
Pentax DAL 55-300mm @ f8
Super Takumar 300mm f4 at f8


And here with each at 100% center crop


And one more with the FiveStar at 100% and the DAL and SuperTak at 166%


Of course the other thing to note is that the SuperTak is a fixed f4 (but there is lots of green CA at f4; stopping down improves matters) but it's a heavy chunk of glass. The DAL 55-300 is autofocus, reasonably light, and quite small compared to the others. It's f5.8 at 300mm, but at long distances, I'm usually shooting f8 just to get some depth of field. The FiveStar 500mm is very light, but it's so long, so it's not particularly handy to carry around, but I got mine for under $30, and you can see it does just fine.

Last edited by mgvh; 02-10-2017 at 05:48 PM.
02-10-2017, 05:40 PM   #33
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
Fast...
I think you can get good cheap and not fast telephotos. But not good cheap and fast ones.
You could also say Good->Cheap->Long pick two.
02-10-2017, 05:44 PM   #34
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
Fast...
I think you can get good cheap and not fast telephotos. But not good cheap and fast ones.
Agreed. Perhaps the exception is the Tair. Wide open (f4.5 from memory) it performs quite well.

02-10-2017, 05:45 PM   #35
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I have had two Sigma 70-300 APO DG's for years (dropped the first one and could not be without a replacement while at Sigma for repair) and have never found any inexpensive lens that come close. Used samples can be found for under $100.
02-10-2017, 05:52 PM - 1 Like   #36
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A few Sigma 70-300 images.

My rescue border collie Kenzie, her first time off leash after moving with us. A perfectly captured moment. If ever there was a dog who was born to run wild it was her.



The macro function works reasonably well


One of my first bird images


Slideshow click here.

I can tell the difference between this lens and my DA*60-250, my DA*200 with TC or an image taken with my Tamron 300 2.8, lets not dream this is a good lens but it
s good enough you can take really good pictures with it, especially if you're not comparing to images taken with better lenses, or if most of your work never needs to be bigger than web size.

That said if you can move up to a DA 55-300 it's better in the long end.

Last edited by normhead; 02-10-2017 at 05:59 PM.
02-10-2017, 06:03 PM   #37
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QuoteOriginally posted by mgvh Quote
Here you go! (Click thru to flickr for larger size) I took a couple shots with each lens, including a magnified LiveView, and used the best one. Shot on a tripod w/ 12 second delay, each at f8, ISO500.
I don't know how clear the screen shots will show it, but Tou Five Star is clearly better in this controlled shoot. The SuperTak is next, followed closely by the DAL 55-300. The only thing is that I can usually get more keepers with the DAL 55-300 because its autofocus is often better than my manual focus.

Comparison of 3 lenses; each at 500ISO, f8
TouFiveStar at 60% center crop; others at 100%
Tou FIVE STAR 500mm f8
Pentax DAL 55-300mm @ f8
Super Takumar 300mm f4 at f8


And here with each at 100% center crop


And one more with the FiveStar at 100% and the DAL and SuperTak at 166%


Of course the other thing to note is that the SuperTak is a fixed f4 (but there is lots of green CA at f4; stopping down improves matters) but it's a heavy chunk of glass. The DAL 55-300 is autofocus, reasonably light, and quite small compared to the others. It's f5.8 at 300mm, but at long distances, I'm usually shooting f8 just to get some depth of field. The FiveStar 500mm is very light, but it's so long, so it's not particularly handy to carry around, but I got mine for under $30, and you can see it does just fine.
That is quite impressive. Thank you. Tripod shot with SR off I assume.

02-10-2017, 06:24 PM   #38
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
That is quite impressive. Thank you. Tripod shot with SR off I assume.
Thanks. Yes, tripod, and SR is automatically off when using self-timer.
02-10-2017, 07:32 PM   #39
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I've took some good shots with one of these.

PENTAX Pentax SMCP-FA 80-320mm f/4.5.-5.6 AF Lens | eBay
02-10-2017, 07:50 PM   #40
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What about... this one!

SMC Pentax-FA J 75-300mm F4.5-5.8 AL
I bought one in 2008, new. Paid it around 170$ USD at that time, if i remember. You may find one cheaper now!

Needs a lot of bright light, colour is not the same as what we are use to get with Pentax lens, IQ is average, hunts a lot, but this will surely fit you budget for the long reach.

I am looking to get the DA* 60-250mm, but I will probably keep it as a backup.
Here is some sample shots with it (75-300mm).
Attached Images
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PENTAX K-5 II  Photo   
02-10-2017, 08:24 PM   #41
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Okay, so I was originally thinking of using a 300mm with a 2x TC for shooting the moon, but now I'm thinking of just buying a cheap 600mm. What do you guys think of this one: Five Star Pentax K Mount 35mm Camera Lens 1:8 500mm Case Tripod Vivitar Skylight | eBay

Keep in mind, I'm no pro just a hobbyist, so I'm not incredibly concerned about quality, but I don't want it to be total crap.
02-10-2017, 08:47 PM   #42
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QuoteOriginally posted by Vicioustuna2012 Quote
Okay, so I was originally thinking of using a 300mm with a 2x TC for shooting the moon, but now I'm thinking of just buying a cheap 600mm. What do you guys think of this one: Five Star Pentax K Mount 35mm Camera Lens 1:8 500mm Case Tripod Vivitar Skylight | eBay

Keep in mind, I'm no pro just a hobbyist, so I'm not incredibly concerned about quality, but I don't want it to be total crap.
See my posts above. That's the same one I am using. The reviews HERE are mixed, but you can see that I have managed decent results with it. And it is cheap!
02-10-2017, 08:56 PM   #43
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QuoteOriginally posted by Vicioustuna2012 Quote
Okay, so I was originally thinking of using a 300mm with a 2x TC for shooting the moon, but now I'm thinking of just buying a cheap 600mm. What do you guys think of this one: Five Star Pentavisible to himx K Mount 35mm Camera Lens 1:8 500mm Case Tripod Vivitar Skylight | eBay

Keep in mind, I'm no pro just a hobbyist, so I'm not incredibly concerned about quality, but I don't want it to be total crap.




Get the seller to give you An email back that there are no scratches fungi haze loose internal parts dents on the lens through the question thing at the bottom of the Add and then you got some protection if you have to raise an issue with Ebay. Looks Like You are going to get a deal if the lens hasn't been dropped into a well or septic tank recently.


PS Here is a little info on what your getting and Good Luck :
Pre-set (Quantaray, Kimunor, Five Star, etc.) 500mm F8 Lens ...

Pentax Forums - The Ultimate Resource for Everything Pentax › ... › Miscellaneous Lenses › Prime Lenses
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Last edited by honey bo bo; 02-10-2017 at 09:03 PM.
02-10-2017, 09:09 PM   #44
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I've seen many older model Pentax 55-300 on Ebay for low prices. For example, on auction I saw one go for about $120 USD. That's about as cheap as you can get. If you don't want to wait as long you can probably still find one for nearly that low.
02-10-2017, 09:29 PM   #45
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The seller's been on ebay since 2003 - 1neg / 12 months out of 249 Feed backs top rated seller - These are things you look for when buying on Ebay and pay with Paypal for the protection there as well. The review link I posted previously has a Moon Shot photo.
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