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11-30-2017, 08:54 PM   #1
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Samyang 100–500 mm f5.6-7.1??

Has anyone had any experiences with this lens?

Looking for a cheap bird lens... I have seen this lens come up a few times around $100. Nice thing is that it would appear to support shutter priority metering, but can find no information regarding IQ.

11-30-2017, 09:12 PM - 1 Like   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by Steve Grosvenor Quote
cheap bird lens
I believe those terms are mutually exclusive.
11-30-2017, 10:30 PM   #3
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Get the FA 100-300 or the DA 55-300 and crop. You'll thank yourself for not bothering with that lens. At least that's my impression from having seen a lot of lenses in that price range and focal length.
11-30-2017, 10:53 PM   #4
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Get the new PLM version of the 55-300, it focuses fast enough for Birds in flight! And it is very sharp for a consumer zoom.

12-01-2017, 05:59 AM   #5
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Hi Steve, if you do consider getting the new 55-300 PLM, please make sure that your camera will operate it properly, as not all Pentax DSLR bodies do.
Good luck with whatever you finally get.
12-01-2017, 06:59 AM   #6
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The 55-300 is miles better than the cheapy Samyang (also sold under Vivitar, Rokunar, and several other names). If you want an under $200 bargain, look fora good used copy of the original version of the 55-300mm Pentax. It's IQ is almost indistinguishable from the newer version, any differences being wiped out by technique; or to put it in other words, your skill will have more impact on the quality of your bird images than which version of the 55~300mm you're using.
12-01-2017, 07:43 AM   #7
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What kind of birding? On a tripod near a bird feeder, or out in the "wild"?

12-01-2017, 07:48 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by jatrax Quote
I believe those terms are mutually exclusive.
lol

I generally agree. But don't photograph birds that often (maybe I should, if I carried a birding lens around with me all the time with the weight I could skip the gym) hence looking at low priced lenses for occasional use.

---------- Post added 12-01-17 at 07:55 AM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by pjv Quote
Hi Steve, if you do consider getting the new 55-300 PLM, please make sure that your camera will operate it properly, as not all Pentax DSLR bodies do.
Good luck with whatever you finally get.
Good Point

Actually already have the 55-300 PLM, which works great on the newer K70 body but sadly is not compatible with my older K200d.

Was looking for a longer reach lens (200 to 500) to keep on the older body specifically for occasional use for birds.

Carl Ziess also made a 100-500 which I made the mistake of not buying earlier this year which sold for about $150.

---------- Post added 12-01-17 at 07:57 AM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by luftfluss Quote
What kind of birding? On a tripod near a bird feeder, or out in the "wild"?
Bird blinds is quasi wild settings. So tripod, but at same time don't want a 50lb lens either.

Last edited by Steve Grosvenor; 12-01-2017 at 07:59 AM.
12-01-2017, 08:24 AM   #9
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If wanting a longer one I'd drop the money on the occasional Sigma 150-500 that pops up here. That's the best long lens for Pentax until you get to the DFA 150-450, but that is going to cost you 3x the price.
12-01-2017, 10:27 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Steve Grosvenor Quote
Bird blinds is quasi wild settings. So tripod, but at same time don't want a 50lb lens either.
QuoteQuote:
Was looking for a longer reach lens (200 to 500) to keep on the older body specifically for occasional use for birds.
Somewhat similar to my usage - I have one body specifically for long lenses

This year I've indulged in "backyard birding", shooting out a window or door with my setup on a tripod, with birds about 10 yards away. I've mostly used aTamron Adaptall-2 SP 200-500mm F5.6 (31A) - often with the matching 1.4x teleconverter - and have been impressed with the solid results.* It's a bit heavy, though.


*I've recently mostly retired this setup in favor of a 300/2.8 + various TC's, but that's a more expensive solution.
12-01-2017, 01:29 PM   #11
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As many have said before, for occasional use: 55-300mm F4-5.8 is the best bet. I just sold an old version for around $100.
I think you will just be frustrated by a cheap lens. I can tell you from my own experience that going from a DA55-300 to a nikon 200-500 made my pictures look better literally overnight. Additionally, the whole experience is a lot more fun and I have a higher keeper rate.

Here's how I would progress:
- 55-300
- 55-300 PLM, maybe tamron 200-500
- Sigma 100-300 F4
- sigma 150-500, 135-400 or similar
- If staying with Pentax: Da300 F4 + TC
- DA 560 / Sigma 500mm F4.5

If willing to try another system:
- Tamron 100-400
- Tamron / Sigma 150-600 (+ another system, b.c. they don't have it for pentax)
- well at this point you won't need to be asking questions

Some comparable samples, two birds, one picture of deers, all on APS-C:

55-300:
https://500px.com/photo/210123721/gone-by-jerzy-szablowski
Ready to go by Jerzy Szablowski - Photo 210028413 / 500px
Deer in the rain by Jerzy Szablowski - Photo 212643619 / 500px


Nikon 200-500:
https://500px.com/photo/233678319/thought-bubble-by-jerzy-szablowski
House finch by Jerzy Szablowski - Photo 233735609 / 500px
https://500px.com/photo/236477969/looking-back-by-jerzy-szablowski?ctx_page=...ser_id=3134811
12-01-2017, 01:29 PM   #12
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As many have said before, for occasional use: 55-300mm F4-5.8 is the best bet. I just sold an old version for around $100.
I think you will just be frustrated by a cheap lens. I can tell you from my own experience that going from a DA55-300 to a nikon 200-500 made my pictures look better literally overnight. Additionally, the whole experience is a lot more fun and I have a higher keeper rate.

Here's how I would progress:
- 55-300
- 55-300 PLM, maybe tamron 200-500
- Sigma 100-300 F4
- sigma 150-500, 135-400 or similar
- If staying with Pentax: Da300 F4 + TC
- DA 560 / Sigma 500mm F4.5

If willing to try another system:
- Tamron 100-400
- Tamron / Sigma 150-600 (+ another system, b.c. they don't have it for pentax)
- well at this point you won't need to be asking questions

Some comparable samples, two birds, one picture of deers, all on APS-C:

55-300:
Gone by Jerzy Szablowski - Photo 210123721 / 500px
https://500px.com/photo/210028413/ready-to-go-by-jerzy-szablowski?ctx_page=1...ser_id=3134811
Deer in the rain by Jerzy Szablowski - Photo 212643619 / 500px


Nikon 200-500:
thought bubble by Jerzy Szablowski - Photo 233678319 / 500px
House finch by Jerzy Szablowski - Photo 233735609 / 500px
https://500px.com/photo/236477969/looking-back-by-jerzy-szablowski?ctx_page=...ser_id=3134811
12-01-2017, 02:57 PM   #13
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Hi Steve,
I have this lens. It was the first lens I bought and used for birding.I found mine used at a local Camera shop that did n't do much Pentax business so they had it marked for $60.To tell the truth it is/was a decent lens.It's not spectacular and it's not a fast lens.It is best used in good sunlight.For the naysayers above I got some pretty good shots with it.It's big and heavy,best used with a tripod or monopod no doubt, but it will do the job and do it cheaply.A lot of times here on the forum some people just don't understand not everyone can spend a lot.Samyang has made some pretty good lenses thru the years but it was n't until relatively recently that they became accepted and in some cases desired.Like luftfluss above I've mostly retired it's regular use as I saved and upgraded thru the years.I use the Bigma 50-500 now for similar shots and yes that is a better lens but it cost ALOT more.If you understand its limitations for the price I would recommend the Samyang lens.
12-01-2017, 03:39 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by randomstuff Quote
As many have said before, for occasional use: 55-300mm F4-5.8 is the best bet. I just sold an old version for around $100.
I think you will just be frustrated by a cheap lens. I can tell you from my own experience that going from a DA55-300 to a nikon 200-500 made my pictures look better literally overnight. Additionally, the whole experience is a lot more fun and I have a higher keeper rate.

Here's how I would progress:
- 55-300
- 55-300 PLM, maybe tamron 200-500
- Sigma 100-300 F4
- sigma 150-500, 135-400 or similar
- If staying with Pentax: Da300 F4 + TC
- DA 560 / Sigma 500mm F4.5

If willing to try another system:
- Tamron 100-400
- Tamron / Sigma 150-600 (+ another system, b.c. they don't have it for pentax)
- well at this point you won't need to be asking questions
What you're suggesting is much more expensive than what the OP is looking at...
12-01-2017, 03:44 PM - 1 Like   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by Cardinal15 Quote
Hi Steve,
I have this lens. It was the first lens I bought and used for birding.I found mine used at a local Camera shop that did n't do much Pentax business so they had it marked for $60.To tell the truth it is/was a decent lens.It's not spectacular and it's not a fast lens.It is best used in good sunlight.For the naysayers above I got some pretty good shots with it.It's big and heavy,best used with a tripod or monopod no doubt, but it will do the job and do it cheaply.A lot of times here on the forum some people just don't understand not everyone can spend a lot.Samyang has made some pretty good lenses thru the years but it was n't until relatively recently that they became accepted and in some cases desired.Like luftfluss above I've mostly retired it's regular use as I saved and upgraded thru the years.I use the Bigma 50-500 now for similar shots and yes that is a better lens but it cost ALOT more.If you understand its limitations for the price I would recommend the Samyang lens.
One of the funny things about (cheap) older, manual-focus tele lenses is the folks who buy them because they are inexpensive tend to be newbies and unaccustomed to MF, so they struggle to use the lens to its best advantage, while the more experienced photogs who could use them more properly have gone up-market.
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