Which lens would you buy for those with AFA 1.7x? DA 300mm or 300* M

angelo9978 · 02-20-2018, 07:43 PM

I got the lens buying bug, and it unsurprisingly coincides with tax season

For those who have used the AFA 1.7x, which one do you think is a better buy per price/performance, or just performance in general; the DA 300mm for $896 or a good copy of pentax-M * 300mm f4 for $440? There was also a FA available for $711, but that seemed so close to the DA price and the DA has warranty and weather sealing, unless FA owners out there say the FA 300 f4.5 is stardust magic. I like to hike, but don't have a lot of bird photos, but I figure I will start focusing on birding if I pull the trigger on one of them.

Please help me with your input, Thanks!

**jpzk** · 02-20-2018, 07:45 PM

I use this TC with my DA*300/4 ... works just fine, actually better than with the (new) HD 1.4X TC.

hcc · 02-20-2018, 07:56 PM - **1 Like**

The FA 300 f4.5 is a smaller lighter lens than the DA*300mm. It can be used handheld quite well, and this why I chose it ahead of the DA*.

My 5 cents.

**jpzk** · 02-20-2018, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by jpzk

I use this TC with my DA*300/4 ... works just fine, actually better than with the (new) HD 1.4X TC.

Originally posted by hcc

The FA 300 f4.5 is a smaller lighter lens than the DA*300mm. It can be used handheld quite well, and this why I chose it ahead of the DA*.

My 5 cents.

The DA*300/4 is quite easy to be used hand-held ... my humble opinion.

**UncleVanya** · 02-20-2018, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by hcc

The FA 300 f4.5 is a smaller lighter lens than the DA*300mm. It can be used handheld quite well, and this why I chose it ahead of the DA*.

My 5 cents.

My FA* was too good of a deal to pass on. I have compared to DA* 300. Not a huge difference. Both are excellent, the FA* is lighter, the F* is lighter still.

That said, I mostly use the 1.7x for the moon with my 300. The 1.7x works best with f/2.8 lensea for more general shooting. Your planned use would likely be fine.

---------- Post added 02-20-18 at 10:43 PM ----------

I forgot to mention that the M* is a good lens, but I've never seen any shoot out between it and the more modern optics.

Sandy Hancock · 02-20-2018, 09:17 PM

Don't forget that the DA*300 will autofocus without the teleconverter, and it's weather sealed. I guess it depends whether those things are important to you.

They are to me.

steve_k · 02-21-2018, 04:00 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

Don't forget that the DA*300 will autofocus without the teleconverter, and it's weather sealed. I guess it depends whether those things are important to you.

They are to me.

The f1.7is not weather sealed so weather sealing doesn’t matter also the f and fa autofocus as well.

Also I believe the f1.7 does the focusing. Not 100 % certain on this.

Sandy Hancock · 02-21-2018, 04:45 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by steve_k

The f1.7is not weather sealed so weather sealing doesn’t matter also the f and fa autofocus as well.

Also I believe the f1.7 does the focusing. Not 100 % certain on this.

I am fully aware of all that; that's why I specified *without* the teleconverter. I can't imagine the chosen lens would only ever be used with it.

**southlander** · 02-21-2018, 05:37 AM

I would veer towards a F or later lens: versus the M* I would think contrast will be better with the later coatings and also autofocus is available when not using the converter.

**pearsaab** · 02-21-2018, 06:11 AM

I use it with the DA 300 and works very well. You have to adjust focus so it is close and then autofocus will take over

**UncleVanya** · 02-21-2018, 08:28 AM

You could pick up the plain M 300 (not *) in the marketplace for very little investment and verify if that route is a good fit. Then if not you haven't wasted much.

I saw this in the marketplace:
SMC Pentax 300mm f4 (final price drop) - PentaxForums.com

Edit: per reviews expect purple fringing in high contrast.

normhead · 02-21-2018, 08:52 AM

For the 1.7 my only advice would be, the wider the aperture opens the better. I tend to use it only with ƒ2.8 lenses. That doesn't man you can't use it with slower aperture lenses, just that it works better with 2.8 lenses.

angelo9978 · 02-21-2018, 09:52 AM

Thanks everyone for your input, i appreciate your time

normhead · 02-21-2018, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by angelo9978

Thanks everyone for your input, i appreciate your time

Well thanks for saying thanks then...

**tmoses** · 02-21-2018, 10:03 AM

Originally posted by angelo9978

I got the lens buying bug, and it unsurprisingly coincides with tax season

For those who have used the AFA 1.7x, which one do you think is a better buy per price/performance, or just performance in general; the DA 300mm for $896 or a good copy of pentax-M * 300mm f4 for $440? There was also a FA available for $711, but that seemed so close to the DA price and the DA has warranty and weather sealing, unless FA owners out there say the FA 300 f4.5 is stardust magic. I like to hike, but don't have a lot of bird photos, but I figure I will start focusing on birding if I pull the trigger on one of them.

Please help me with your input, Thanks!

DA* 300

It supposedly works just fine on full frame as well.

02-20-2018, 07:43 PM	#1
angelo9978 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 231	*Which lens would you buy for those with AFA 1.7x? DA 300mm or 300 M** I got the lens buying bug, and it unsurprisingly coincides with tax season For those who have used the AFA 1.7x, which one do you think is a better buy per price/performance, or just performance in general; the DA 300mm for $896 or a good copy of pentax-M * 300mm f4 for $440? There was also a FA available for $711, but that seemed so close to the DA price and the DA has warranty and weather sealing, unless FA owners out there say the FA 300 f4.5 is stardust magic. I like to hike, but don't have a lot of bird photos, but I figure I will start focusing on birding if I pull the trigger on one of them. Please help me with your input, Thanks!

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02-20-2018, 07:45 PM	#2
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	I use this TC with my DA*300/4 ... works just fine, actually better than with the (new) HD 1.4X TC.

02-20-2018, 07:56 PM - 1 Like	#3
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,004	The FA 300 f4.5 is a smaller lighter lens than the DA300mm. It can be used handheld quite well, and this why I chose it ahead of the DA. My 5 cents.

02-20-2018, 08:23 PM	#4
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by jpzk I use this TC with my DA300/4 ... works just fine, actually better than with the (new) HD 1.4X TC. Originally posted by hcc The FA 300 f4.5 is a smaller lighter lens than the DA300mm. It can be used handheld quite well, and this why I chose it ahead of the DA. My 5 cents. The DA300/4 is quite easy to be used hand-held ... my humble opinion.

02-20-2018, 08:34 PM	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,445	Originally posted by hcc The FA 300 f4.5 is a smaller lighter lens than the DA300mm. It can be used handheld quite well, and this why I chose it ahead of the DA. My 5 cents. My FA* was too good of a deal to pass on. I have compared to DA* 300. Not a huge difference. Both are excellent, the FA* is lighter, the F* is lighter still. That said, I mostly use the 1.7x for the moon with my 300. The 1.7x works best with f/2.8 lensea for more general shooting. Your planned use would likely be fine. ---------- Post added 02-20-18 at 10:43 PM ---------- I forgot to mention that the M* is a good lens, but I've never seen any shoot out between it and the more modern optics.

02-20-2018, 09:17 PM	#6
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Don't forget that the DA*300 will autofocus without the teleconverter, and it's weather sealed. I guess it depends whether those things are important to you. They are to me.

02-21-2018, 04:00 AM	#7
steve_k Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Shelton, CT Photos: Albums Posts: 708	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock Don't forget that the DA*300 will autofocus without the teleconverter, and it's weather sealed. I guess it depends whether those things are important to you. They are to me. The f1.7is not weather sealed so weather sealing doesn’t matter also the f and fa autofocus as well. Also I believe the f1.7 does the focusing. Not 100 % certain on this.

02-21-2018, 04:45 AM - 1 Like	#8
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Originally posted by steve_k The f1.7is not weather sealed so weather sealing doesn’t matter also the f and fa autofocus as well. Also I believe the f1.7 does the focusing. Not 100 % certain on this. I am fully aware of all that; that's why I specified without the teleconverter. I can't imagine the chosen lens would only ever be used with it.

02-21-2018, 05:37 AM	#9
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	I would veer towards a F or later lens: versus the M* I would think contrast will be better with the later coatings and also autofocus is available when not using the converter.

02-21-2018, 06:11 AM	#10
pearsaab Otis Memorial Pentaxian Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2011 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,900	I use it with the DA 300 and works very well. You have to adjust focus so it is close and then autofocus will take over

02-21-2018, 08:28 AM	#11
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,445	You could pick up the plain M 300 (not *) in the marketplace for very little investment and verify if that route is a good fit. Then if not you haven't wasted much. I saw this in the marketplace: SMC Pentax 300mm f4 (final price drop) - PentaxForums.com Edit: per reviews expect purple fringing in high contrast.

02-21-2018, 08:52 AM	#12
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	For the 1.7 my only advice would be, the wider the aperture opens the better. I tend to use it only with ƒ2.8 lenses. That doesn't man you can't use it with slower aperture lenses, just that it works better with 2.8 lenses.

02-21-2018, 09:52 AM	#13
angelo9978 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 231 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for your input, i appreciate your time

02-21-2018, 09:59 AM	#14
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by angelo9978 Thanks everyone for your input, i appreciate your time Well thanks for saying thanks then...

02-21-2018, 10:03 AM	#15
tmoses Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Montgomery, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 66	Originally posted by angelo9978 I got the lens buying bug, and it unsurprisingly coincides with tax season For those who have used the AFA 1.7x, which one do you think is a better buy per price/performance, or just performance in general; the DA 300mm for $896 or a good copy of pentax-M * 300mm f4 for $440? There was also a FA available for $711, but that seemed so close to the DA price and the DA has warranty and weather sealing, unless FA owners out there say the FA 300 f4.5 is stardust magic. I like to hike, but don't have a lot of bird photos, but I figure I will start focusing on birding if I pull the trigger on one of them. Please help me with your input, Thanks! DA* 300 It supposedly works just fine on full frame as well.