300mm Prime on the Pentax KP for Wildlife and Birding???

Gold Coast · 06-20-2017, 01:32 PM

Looking to get a Pentax KP or the Pentax K-3II with the 18-135 kit lens. What I want to know and need feedback for a good lens for Wildlife and Birding? Pentax does not have a big selection in the 300 to 400mm range. Would the prime 300mm lens be a good one for what I want to do? I also see there is a 70-200 lens but for me I do not think it will have the reach I would like to have. Then there is the 150-450mm which is out of my price range. I looked at Tamron and Sigma and they also do not have much in the 300-400mm range either. Need feedback on a good lens for my type of photography and all help appreciated. Thanks Bill

**boriscleto** · 06-20-2017, 01:36 PM

The 300mm plus lens Club discuss your long lenses. - PentaxForums.com

normhead · 06-20-2017, 01:55 PM

The 300 with the 1.4 TC is sort of the minimum. I really like my 60-250 for wildlife, but it's not a birding lens.

Of the lenses I've used and still have hanging around around, Sigma 70 300, the Pentax 55-300 is the best lens in this class. They will get you started but you can't stop there.
DA* 60-250, suffers severely from focus breathing, not much use for birding even with the TC.
DA*200 2.8 with either the 1.4 or the 1.7 TC, or with both TC's stacked for a possible 476mm
Tamron AF 300 2.8 with either the 1.4 TC( very fast AF) or the 1.7 (limited very fast AF) and 510mm ƒ4.
A 400 ƒ5.6.you can probably find one at a great price if you don't mind manual focus.

What gear I take pretty much depends on how much I need a wide aperture, and how much I need autofocus, and how far I have to carry everything.

There's also the very expensive Sigma 300 2.8 or 500 4.5, various incarnations of the Sigma 150-500, 50-500 or 120-400 (not as expensive). They were at one time available off the shelf in Pentax mounts (screw drive) you can probably find one second hand.

And of course there's all the older Pentax glass, 600 ƒ4 etc. you can see them all in the lens data base. But all good long glass is extremely pricey no matter how old it is.

MY guess is, if you can't afford the 150-450, really, it's quite cheap for a lens like that, you aren't going to find much that does birds for less. Your best shot are the various Sigmas, 50-500, 150-500 or 120-400.

gerardbaron · 06-20-2017, 02:00 PM

I use a SMC 300mm f:4 with the K5 and K1.
This is manual lens, but with the right setting on your camera it does the job.
Ebay, Amazon, etc.......

**boriscleto** · 06-20-2017, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by normhead

There's also the very expensive Sigma 300 2.8 or 500 4.5, various incarnations of the Sigma 150-500, 50-500 or 120-400 (not as expensive). They were at one time available off the shelf in Pentax mounts (screw drive) you can probably find one second hand..

There was a Sigma 300/4 Tele-macro on Shopgoodwill last month...for $200 BiN...(It's even rarer than the 400/5.6 Tele-macro). I didn't have $200 last month

Sigma 300mm F4 APO Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

I'm sure whoever bought it sold it for a nice profit on eBay. Assuming nothing was wrong with it. Anything from Shopgoodwill is a gamble...

KiloHotelphoto · 06-20-2017, 03:03 PM - **1 Like**

The DA*300 F4 is a great little lens. It is very easy to walk around with and hand hold, AF is fast and I think the image quality is right up there.

Fenwoodian · 06-20-2017, 03:08 PM - **2 Likes**

.
A high-quality, 300mm, manual-focus, older prime lens would be a great way to start! That's what I started my wildlife photography with. Also, either of the Pentax cameras you are considering would be a good choice for a wildlife camera.

I'd say that a high quality manual-focus prime lens is better than a low-quality/cheap auto-focus telephoto zoom lens because a good bird or wildlife image is often determined by how much detail one can see in the animal's: eyes, fur, or feathers. A high quality manual focus prime will get you that detail.

Of course shooting a manual-focus prime will not get you as many keepers as if you were using an auto-focus tele lens, you will fine tune your photography skills more by using a manual-focus lens. Then some day when you can afford an auto-focus lens, your manual-focus experience will translate to your new auto focus lens and you'll be a better photographer for it.

I still have my SMC Pentax-M* 300mm F4 that I rarely use these days. If you do nail the focus with it, the image file you create will be as good as the most expensive auto-focus super-telephotos zoom lenses currently available. Message me if interested in my lens and I'll send some photos and more information.

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Last edited by Fenwoodian; 06-20-2017 at 03:24 PM.

gabriel_bc · 06-20-2017, 03:20 PM

There's a FA* 300/4.5 in the marketplace right now - amazing lens. It would be an excellent choice.

**ramseybuckeye** · 06-20-2017, 03:56 PM

i have the DA^ 300 and it offers excellent image quality. Before I bought it I rented a Sigma 50-500. The Sigma performed well, but I decided to go with the Pentax because of the faster (F4) aperture, it can be pretty dark in the woods. The only downside of the 300 is the slow autofocus, but it is accurate. I would love to get the 150-450 but I can't swing that. If the DA tc ever comes down to about 60% it is now, I may get one, but I haven't seen it as a necessity.

Gold Coast · 06-20-2017, 04:46 PM

I sure agree about there TC. For me it is way over priced compare to other makes you would think they would see that and adjust the price to sell more of them. I will certainly never buy one except used in pristine condition down the road. Thanks to all who responded Bill

**clackers** · 06-20-2017, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by Gold Coast

I sure agree about there TC. For me it is way over priced compare to other makes you would think they would see that and adjust the price to sell more of them. I will certainly never buy one except used in pristine condition down the road. Thanks to all who responded Bill

It's very good, though, Bill. You buy a good lens and you don't want to ruin it by putting an average bit of glass behind it.

I don't even bother putting an old Tamron 2x TC on anymore. I could crop and get a better pic!

As far as the economics goes, it will still be cheaper than buying a lens with 40 percent more reach.

Gold Coast · 06-20-2017, 07:31 PM

If I do this It will probably be the 300mm F/4. I think it will do what I want and I am usually pretty good at sneaking up on things. I had a TC on a Canon a few years back and sold it. It was a little to soft on the top end as I expected it to be. The 300 is a fast enough lens as I do not do much photos in real low light as I can adjust the ISO to some point to make up some of it. Thanks again Bill

cali92rs · 06-20-2017, 10:48 PM - **2 Likes**

Here are a few shots with my former KP + FA* 300mm f4.5

**Cee Cee** · 06-21-2017, 02:01 AM - **1 Like**

If you intend to photograph smallish birds be mindful of how close you need to get to fill the frame (or even half fill it). Older lenses usually have a larger minimum focus distance than more modern lenses, for example I have a Vivitar (tokina) 300 f5.5, the mfd is close to 3 meters, a sparrow size bird is well under 1/2 frame, but with my DA55-300 @ 1.4 meters mfd I can fill the frame provided you can get that close, and I have on occasions, and also been caught under the min focus distance with the 300 f5.5, very frustrating to have to backup to get the shot. Personally my wish includes the *300 f4 & 1.4 teleconverter.

06-20-2017, 01:32 PM	#1
Gold Coast Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Burson California Posts: 61	300mm Prime on the Pentax KP for Wildlife and Birding??? Looking to get a Pentax KP or the Pentax K-3II with the 18-135 kit lens. What I want to know and need feedback for a good lens for Wildlife and Birding? Pentax does not have a big selection in the 300 to 400mm range. Would the prime 300mm lens be a good one for what I want to do? I also see there is a 70-200 lens but for me I do not think it will have the reach I would like to have. Then there is the 150-450mm which is out of my price range. I looked at Tamron and Sigma and they also do not have much in the 300-400mm range either. Need feedback on a good lens for my type of photography and all help appreciated. Thanks Bill

06-20-2017, 03:08 PM - 2 Likes	#7
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,874	. A high-quality, 300mm, manual-focus, older prime lens would be a great way to start! That's what I started my wildlife photography with. Also, either of the Pentax cameras you are considering would be a good choice for a wildlife camera. I'd say that a high quality manual-focus prime lens is better than a low-quality/cheap auto-focus telephoto zoom lens because a good bird or wildlife image is often determined by how much detail one can see in the animal's: eyes, fur, or feathers. A high quality manual focus prime will get you that detail. Of course shooting a manual-focus prime will not get you as many keepers as if you were using an auto-focus tele lens, you will fine tune your photography skills more by using a manual-focus lens. Then some day when you can afford an auto-focus lens, your manual-focus experience will translate to your new auto focus lens and you'll be a better photographer for it. I still have my SMC Pentax-M* 300mm F4 that I rarely use these days. If you do nail the focus with it, the image file you create will be as good as the most expensive auto-focus super-telephotos zoom lenses currently available. Message me if interested in my lens and I'll send some photos and more information. [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] Last edited by Fenwoodian; 06-20-2017 at 03:24 PM.

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06-20-2017, 01:36 PM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	The 300mm plus lens Club discuss your long lenses. - PentaxForums.com

06-20-2017, 01:55 PM	#3
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	The 300 with the 1.4 TC is sort of the minimum. I really like my 60-250 for wildlife, but it's not a birding lens. Of the lenses I've used and still have hanging around around, Sigma 70 300, the Pentax 55-300 is the best lens in this class. They will get you started but you can't stop there. DA* 60-250, suffers severely from focus breathing, not much use for birding even with the TC. DA*200 2.8 with either the 1.4 or the 1.7 TC, or with both TC's stacked for a possible 476mm Tamron AF 300 2.8 with either the 1.4 TC( very fast AF) or the 1.7 (limited very fast AF) and 510mm ƒ4. A 400 ƒ5.6.you can probably find one at a great price if you don't mind manual focus. What gear I take pretty much depends on how much I need a wide aperture, and how much I need autofocus, and how far I have to carry everything. There's also the very expensive Sigma 300 2.8 or 500 4.5, various incarnations of the Sigma 150-500, 50-500 or 120-400 (not as expensive). They were at one time available off the shelf in Pentax mounts (screw drive) you can probably find one second hand. And of course there's all the older Pentax glass, 600 ƒ4 etc. you can see them all in the lens data base. But all good long glass is extremely pricey no matter how old it is. MY guess is, if you can't afford the 150-450, really, it's quite cheap for a lens like that, you aren't going to find much that does birds for less. Your best shot are the various Sigmas, 50-500, 150-500 or 120-400.

06-20-2017, 02:00 PM	#4
gerardbaron Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mississauga (Canada) Photos: Albums Posts: 139	I use a SMC 300mm f:4 with the K5 and K1. This is manual lens, but with the right setting on your camera it does the job. Ebay, Amazon, etc.......

06-20-2017, 02:37 PM	#5
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by normhead There's also the very expensive Sigma 300 2.8 or 500 4.5, various incarnations of the Sigma 150-500, 50-500 or 120-400 (not as expensive). They were at one time available off the shelf in Pentax mounts (screw drive) you can probably find one second hand.. There was a Sigma 300/4 Tele-macro on Shopgoodwill last month...for $200 BiN...(It's even rarer than the 400/5.6 Tele-macro). I didn't have $200 last month Sigma 300mm F4 APO Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database I'm sure whoever bought it sold it for a nice profit on eBay. Assuming nothing was wrong with it. Anything from Shopgoodwill is a gamble...

06-20-2017, 03:03 PM - 1 Like	#6
KiloHotelphoto Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Glen Mills, PA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,030	The DA*300 F4 is a great little lens. It is very easy to walk around with and hand hold, AF is fast and I think the image quality is right up there.

06-20-2017, 03:20 PM	#8
gabriel_bc Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Langley, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 550	There's a FA* 300/4.5 in the marketplace right now - amazing lens. It would be an excellent choice.

06-20-2017, 03:56 PM	#9
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	i have the DA^ 300 and it offers excellent image quality. Before I bought it I rented a Sigma 50-500. The Sigma performed well, but I decided to go with the Pentax because of the faster (F4) aperture, it can be pretty dark in the woods. The only downside of the 300 is the slow autofocus, but it is accurate. I would love to get the 150-450 but I can't swing that. If the DA tc ever comes down to about 60% it is now, I may get one, but I haven't seen it as a necessity.

06-20-2017, 04:46 PM	#10
Gold Coast Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Burson California Posts: 61 Original Poster	I sure agree about there TC. For me it is way over priced compare to other makes you would think they would see that and adjust the price to sell more of them. I will certainly never buy one except used in pristine condition down the road. Thanks to all who responded Bill

06-20-2017, 06:03 PM	#11
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Gold Coast I sure agree about there TC. For me it is way over priced compare to other makes you would think they would see that and adjust the price to sell more of them. I will certainly never buy one except used in pristine condition down the road. Thanks to all who responded Bill It's very good, though, Bill. You buy a good lens and you don't want to ruin it by putting an average bit of glass behind it. I don't even bother putting an old Tamron 2x TC on anymore. I could crop and get a better pic! As far as the economics goes, it will still be cheaper than buying a lens with 40 percent more reach.

06-20-2017, 07:31 PM	#12
Gold Coast Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Burson California Posts: 61 Original Poster	If I do this It will probably be the 300mm F/4. I think it will do what I want and I am usually pretty good at sneaking up on things. I had a TC on a Canon a few years back and sold it. It was a little to soft on the top end as I expected it to be. The 300 is a fast enough lens as I do not do much photos in real low light as I can adjust the ISO to some point to make up some of it. Thanks again Bill

06-20-2017, 10:48 PM - 2 Likes	#13
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Here are a few shots with my former KP + FA* 300mm f4.5

06-21-2017, 02:01 AM - 1 Like	#14
Cee Cee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Glenroy, Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,441	If you intend to photograph smallish birds be mindful of how close you need to get to fill the frame (or even half fill it). Older lenses usually have a larger minimum focus distance than more modern lenses, for example I have a Vivitar (tokina) 300 f5.5, the mfd is close to 3 meters, a sparrow size bird is well under 1/2 frame, but with my DA55-300 @ 1.4 meters mfd I can fill the frame provided you can get that close, and I have on occasions, and also been caught under the min focus distance with the 300 f5.5, very frustrating to have to backup to get the shot. Personally my wish includes the *300 f4 & 1.4 teleconverter.