Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
10-13-2017, 02:33 PM   #1
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
csa's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Montana mountains
Posts: 10,133
Pentax 300 lens choice

Right after the first of the year, I'm going to be looking for a Pentax 300 primary. I can't afford the DA, or even the FA*; so my choices would be between the A* or the M*. I like the lightweight that both appear to be. So with wildlife, are they both about the same in sharpness? Any advantage of one over the other?

Thanks in advance!

10-13-2017, 03:04 PM   #2
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sweden
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 429
As far as I know, they are the same except that A * has lens information to the camera and A mode on the aperture ring. A * works as F300 * / DA300* but without auto focus.
10-13-2017, 03:14 PM   #3
csa
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
csa's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Montana mountains
Posts: 10,133
Original Poster
Thanks for that information!
10-13-2017, 03:26 PM   #4
Seeker of Knowledge
Loyal Site Supporter
aslyfox's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 24,559
are these what you are considering ??

SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F2.8 ED [IF]

SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F2.8 ED [IF] Reviews - A Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F4

SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F4 Reviews - A Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

SMC Pentax-M* 300mm F4

SMC Pentax-M* 300mm F4 Reviews - M Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

10-13-2017, 03:42 PM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: North Wales
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,850
Both the "M" and "A" 300mm f4's tend to command relatively premium prices for a MF 300mm, at least on this side of the pond - particularly the "A". That's the main reason I don't have one. I'd rather stretch to ~double the money, 500-odd vs 250-odd (£) - and get a s/h DA 300mm. I'd suggest the pentacon 300mm f4 as just as fast and competitive IQ, but it is a bit of a beast, more than double the weight.

Price/performance you might consider two Tamron SP adaptall options. The 54B 300mm f5.6 is good and sharp, prone to fringing (but so are the pentaxes), best at portrait-mid range distances IMO but with very good close focus capability to 1.5m. Or the SP 23A 60-300mm is actually slightly faster at f5.4 (but in fact slightly shorter at ~ 290mm), and is a superb all rounder with almost true macro 1:1.55 repro. Marry with a PKA mount and you have an "A" lens.

And of course, its debateable whether any of these are better than the DA 55-300mm...

Last edited by marcusBMG; 10-13-2017 at 03:48 PM.
10-13-2017, 04:21 PM   #6
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
jatrax's Avatar

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cascades
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,991
QuoteOriginally posted by csa Quote
Right after the first of the year, I'm going to be looking for a Pentax 300 primary. I can't afford the DA, or even the FA*;
What is your budget? PM me if you do not want to post it.
10-13-2017, 04:47 PM   #7
csa
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
csa's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Montana mountains
Posts: 10,133
Original Poster
Around $400, if that's possible; I really don't know the prices on these 2 lenses, but hope to be able to get one.

10-13-2017, 04:52 PM   #8
amateur dirt farmer
Loyal Site Supporter
pepperberry farm's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: probably out in a field somewhere...
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 41,131
if you are looking at manual focus 300mm lenses, you may want to consider the Tamron Adaptall's 300mm f2.8 models...
10-13-2017, 05:30 PM   #9
csa
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
csa's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Montana mountains
Posts: 10,133
Original Poster
It looks like the Tamron is much lighter in weight than the Pentax's.
10-13-2017, 06:50 PM   #10
Des
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Des's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Victoria Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,404
QuoteOriginally posted by marcusBMG Quote
And of course, its debateable whether any of these are better than the DA 55-300mm...
^ The 55-300 PLM is very good, Carol, and would be within budget. Big upgrade from the 70-300. Compared to the A*300 or M*300 you'd lose a stop, but you'd gain the best AF speed and performance of any Pentax lens, good colours and contrast, the latest coatings, pleasant bokeh, lighter weight, shorter MFD and of course versatility.

At f8 there's not a massive difference between the PLM and my FA*300 f4.5.

QuoteOriginally posted by csa Quote
It looks like the Tamron is much lighter in weight than the Pentax's.
Sure about this? These are each more than 2kg.
Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 300mm f/2.8 LD IF (60B) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 300mm f/2.8 LD IF (360B) Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
And not cheap either.

Maybe you were looking at f5.6 ones rather than the fancied f2.8 ones that PBF referred to? If so, where's the gain over the PLM (f6.3 at 300mm but f5.6 at about 280mm)?

Last edited by Des; 10-13-2017 at 09:04 PM.
10-13-2017, 07:41 PM   #11
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
stevebrot's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Vancouver (USA)
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 42,007
QuoteOriginally posted by Bophoto Quote
As far as I know, they are the same except that A * has lens information to the camera and A mode on the aperture ring.
The only information passed to the body by the A* is the maximum aperture, aperture range, and whether the the aperture ring is at the "A" position.


Steve
10-13-2017, 08:42 PM   #12
csa
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
csa's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Montana mountains
Posts: 10,133
Original Poster
Not the F2.8 (out of my price range). F4's, yes.
10-13-2017, 09:03 PM   #13
csa
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
csa's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Montana mountains
Posts: 10,133
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Des Quote
Sure about this? These are each more than 2kg.
Thanks! I see that now.

"The 55-300 PLM is very good, Carol, and would be within budget. Big upgrade from the 70-300. "

I really have my heart set on a 300mm, rather than another zoom.

Last edited by csa; 10-13-2017 at 09:11 PM.
10-14-2017, 12:11 AM   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Sep 2014
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,020
Or if you don't mind the excessive weight, you could go for the super tak 300mm, but requires m42 adapter, and definitely wouldn't have any advantage in coatings or aberration control.
10-14-2017, 02:17 AM   #15
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
i_trax's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Perth Western Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,621
hi, my first choice is FA*300 , the second choice is DA*200 with Tamron-F 1.4x AF teleconverter, they both cover FF image.
DA*200 is a very undervalued lens and sometimes goes very cheap, I love mine. The Pentax 1.4x is not FF and very overpriced.
You can also get some old 200mm 2.8 lens with Pentax 1.7x AF converter, you will need to prefocus the lens but the Pentax converter will do the rest. They are both FF and very good IQ.
kind regards
jack
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
1.4x, 200mm, 400mm, da*, f/2.8, fa, k-mount, lens, pentax, pentax 300 lens, pentax lens, reach, reviews, slr lens, tc
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pntax 24-90, 28-105, 100-300/4.7..., Tamron 28-300, Sigma 70-300...and new 15-30 jeffreybehr Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 3 10-19-2016 04:26 AM
Sigma 70/300 APO vs Sigma 70/300 OS vs Pentax 55/300 robert52 Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 5 10-06-2014 10:45 PM
DA*300, FA*300 or F*300? jatrax Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 10 08-11-2013 08:58 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA 100-300, FA 70-200, M 28mm; Sigma EX 28-70, Apo 70-300; Tamron Di LD 70-300 stillnk Sold Items 17 04-08-2012 11:39 AM
TESTED: Pentax 55-300 vs. Sigma 70-300 vs. Tamron 70-300 falconeye Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 22 05-14-2009 04:01 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:33 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top