[Froth Ninja]

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Looking for recommendations for a cheap AF Zoom for my K3. Budget is under UK£100 but I would be happy with a good condition clean used one. Prefer 50 - 300 but 100 - 300 would do. I already have manual focus ones but I want auto focus. Quite happy to operate the zoom by hand.


It would be for general use but I do want something for zooming into flora, fauna, landscape & architectural detail.


There is a slightly mouldy SMC Pentax-FA 100-300mm F4.7-5.8 for £60 & was wondering if it would work on the K3 (& if it would be in budget if I got the lenses professionally cleaned).

Hive expertise & experience greatly appreciated - thank you

[aslyfox]

yes it would work

these charts have info on camera bodies and lenses

the K 3 is on line 2

The Pentax Camera Lens Compatibility Chart

FA lenses are on line 4

Pentax K-Mount Lenses Explained: The differences between various Pentax lens series

[BigMackCam]

At this kind of budget, there's nothing to beat the Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6. It's really quite a decent lens too... it has limitations, but it's better than you'd expect.

There's one on eBay right now from SRS:

Used Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD Macro lens in Pentax fit - 1 YEAR GTEE | eBay

Alternatively, you can often find them new for around £120

EDIT: Jessops is currently doing this lens for £99 new. A bargain.

[Froth Ninja]

yes it would work

these charts have info on camera bodies and lenses

the K 3 is on line 2

The Pentax Camera Lens Compatibility Chart

FA lenses are on line 4

Pentax K-Mount Lenses Explained: The differences between various Pentax lens series

Thank you - will try & figure out what means what. Isn't an aperture ring fairly important?

---------- Post added 03-03-18 at 03:33 PM ----------

At this kind of budget, there's nothing to beat the Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6. It's really quite a decent lens too... it has limitations, but it's better than you'd expect.

There's one on eBay right now from SRS:

Used Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD Macro lens in Pentax fit - 1 YEAR GTEE | eBay

Alternatively, you can often find them new for around £120

EDIT: Jessops is currently doing this lens for £99 new. A bargain.

Thanks - will look asap. What are its limitations? I will try & find it in the review section too

[BigMackCam]

Thank you - will try & figure out what means what. Isn't an aperture ring fairly important?

---------- Post added 03-03-18 at 03:33 PM ----------


Thanks - will look asap. What are its limitations? I will try & find it in the review section too

It's not all that sharp at the longest focal lengths (but then, no low-budget zoom lens will be), and displays quite significant purple fringing around high contrast edges when used wide open - but this reduces quickly as the lens is stopped down. It's not a huge problem if you're aware of it... you just have to learn to use the lens to its strengths, which would be the case for any lens. For £100 or less, you're not going to find a better AF zoom lens in the focal length range you want, IMHO

[jeallen01]

Another obvious candidate is some version of the Pentax 55-300 as I suspect that should be a lot sharper (certainly, mine is very sharp!) - should be able get an early non-HD version for less than £100 UK but preferably not the DAL version as that does not have "quickshift" to allow easy manual override. Pay a bit more and get the one that does have quickshift .

[aslyfox]

Thank you - will try & figure out what means what. Isn't an aperture ring fairly important? . . .

with some lenses, you set the aperture manually

with others, the lens sets it for you

Understanding Aperture for Beginners - Photography Basics

[Froth Ninja]

Setting ap manually isn't really a prob, though I have noticed the in built meter is a bit hit & miss using my old manual zooms - especially my old Hoya

[jatrax]

Best bet would be some version of the DA 55-300 if you can find one in your price range.

[jeallen01]

with some lenses, you set the aperture manually

with others, the lens sets it for you

Understanding Aperture for Beginners - Photography Basics

Strictly speaking that's not quite correct - when there is no Aperture ("A") setting ring on the lens then the body tells the lens what aperture to set, based on the Mode in which the body has been set.

[aslyfox]

Strictly speaking that's not quite correct - when there is no Aperture ("A") setting ring on the lens then the body tells the lens what aperture to set, based on the Mode in which the body has been set.

I stand corrected

thanks

[steve_k]

I don’t know the current exchange rate but this should be fairly close to your budget.

Steal: HD DA 55-300mm Lens Only $147 - Deals and Savings | PentaxForums.com

[pepperberry farm]

I'd be looking for a used DA L 55-300mm f4-5.8 ED - it's a solid consumer zoom that usually sells cheaper than the other versions of the 55-300....

[honey bo bo]

I don’t know the current exchange rate but this should be fairly close to your budget.

Steal: HD DA 55-300mm Lens Only $147 - Deals and Savings | PentaxForums.com

And one more time.

[jimr-pdx]

I have owned at least three copies of the quantaray 100-300 (also sigma DL) for/4.5-6.7 and been more than satisfied for under $50. It's fast to focus, much faster than the early 55-300s.. but slow to grab light, generally f/5.6 to ~260mm then f/6.7.