[igabc]

Hello pentaxians. Long time not posting but following you all thanks to the newsletters.

I am in Fuerteventura developing business. After taking some pictures Surfing in Esquinzo - Fuerteventura | Flickr - Surf Day - El Hierro Fuerteventura - Canarie | Flickr with my promaster 70-300 toy zoom, I was asked to be hired for some photography work for surf, windsurf and kite schools.

I need a good tele to have good professional quality in full print resolution. Let's say that I need a stock photography quality. I am already selling through shutterstock and others but only pictures taken with my old and wonderful A-35~105mm

Focal range around 400mm, sharp.

What do u suggest?

Thank you!

Gabriele

[mikeSF]

You know about the D FA HD 150-450/4 right?

[skierd]

The 150-450 or the 60-250 with the 1.4x TC for zooms. The DA*300 and DA 560 with and without the 1.4x for primes.

[Na Horuk]

These are all sharp:
>= 69mm Lenses | PentaxForums.com
DFA 150-450 is probably best fit for you.

Tamron 70-200mm is pretty popular as well, but not as strong as the Pentax 70-200mm.
There is the new HD DA 55-300mm WR PLM: https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/hd-pentax-da-55-300mm-f45-63-ed-plm-wr-re.html
Not on the same level as 150-450 and 70-200mm, but very affordable, and it still has WR and silent AF. Might require firmware upgrade on your camera, because of PLM (does not work with old cameras)

[angerdan]

How big is your budget?
What aperture do you need at least?
Any limitations in size, weight or AF-speed?

Recommendations:
used FA* 400mm 5.6
DA* 300mm with 1.4x TC
D FA 150-450mm 4.5-5.6
DA 560mm 5.6

[boriscleto]

Might require firmware upgrade on your camera, because of PLM (does not work with old cameras)

Profiles says K-3. So it would work with a firmware upgrade.

[6BQ5]

I recently shot a local airshow with the D-FA 150-450mm on a K-1. The images came out sharp and crisp. I would not hesitate to recommend this lens despite its weight.

[Alex645]

The practical zoom in the 400mm range is the PENTAX D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 DC AW:
Pentax HD PENTAX D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 DC AW Lens 21340 B&H

But if you want a bigger range for perhaps a little drop in quality there is the Sigma 50-500mm F/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM:
Sigma 50-500mm F/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM Lens for Pentax K 738109

If you have the budget and can live without a zoom in exchange for IQ, there is the Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO:
Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO Lens for Pentax K 184109 B&H Photo

Some folks love teleconverters, but I would only go there for Plan B.

Finally there is Pentaxʻs longest prime telephoto the PENTAX DA 560mm f/5.6 ED AW:
Pentax DA 560mm f/5.6 ED AW Lens 22180 B&H Photo Video

For surf and wind, Iʻd lean toward the Pentax options because of the All Weather sealing on both the zoom and prime mentioned above.

[surfar]

PLM 55-300mm with DA 1.4x TC gets to 420mm.With K-3.

Shooting surfing theres plenty of light,except for dawn and dusk,going off the Flikr images,it was a goodish time to shoot.

If you want the be$t, K-1 and 150-450mm.

[jpzk]

Your style of photography, if I go with what you have posted on Flickr, is action/outdoors and at quite a distance.
Best choice (if your budget is in line with that): your K3 with the D FA 150-450. Better yet ( I am told) with the K-1.

[clackers]

Igabc, the 70-200 gives you the pro-level f2.8 for action, but once your surfers hit the water, the 150-450 will be needed even if it's slower.

[cyberjunkie]

If price is an issue, let's not forget the two Sigma's 120-400mm and 150-500mm.
Not as fast as a good prime, but with very fast AF.
The weight/bulk of the former is not excessive, if you don't find a 2.8/70-200mm too unwieldy, you'd have no problems with the Sigma too.
I mostly use FF (K-1) and shoot with MF primes most of the times, but when I travel I always have with me two zooms, just in case... After trying different combinations I'm currently more than happy with the Sigma 2.8/24-70mm and the 120-400mm.
The Tamron 2.8/70-200mm has not enough reach, especially on FF, and the old Tokina AT-X 80-400mm is wonderfully compact but not as good as the Sigma: less IQ and slower AF.

Cheers

Paolo

[angerdan]

Long time not posting but following you all thanks to the newsletters.
What do u suggest?

So how did you decide?

[aslyfox]

probably too late for the original OP's decision

but for anyone who may be currently looking for options and found this thread looking at these two " In Depth Reviews " might be helpful



HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 (APS-C)
Introduction
The long-awaited HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW telephoto zoom made its debut in early May, 2015 as the first of an upcoming series of Pentax full frame lenses. It was originally announced at CP+ 2015 in Tokyo alongside the Pentax full frame DSLR, which is scheduled for release in late 2015. . . .


Read more at: HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6
Introduction
Back in June 2016, we presented our first review of the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW, which was the first member of the new lineup of full frame zoom lenses from Pentax. At the time, the review had been performed with a K-3 camera body as the full-frame K-1 had been announced but not yet released. Now that the K-1 has been out for some time and more users have access to it, it is time to revisit our review, this time testing the lens with a full frame sensor.


Read more at: HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews