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02-11-2019, 10:12 AM - 1 Like   #286
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I have never had a complaint about this lens until I tried to take photos of the recent "super blood" moon.
To get a better focus, I switched to manual focus and used Live View.
However, turning the focus ring precisely was difficult because it is "by wire". When I turned it in live view it was hard to get focus when compared to the old 55-300 screw drive.
I suppose I should go back out at night an use the old lens and see if my live view focus is easier.

02-11-2019, 11:40 AM   #287
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QuoteOriginally posted by Lloyd_Christmas Quote
I have never had a complaint about this lens until I tried to take photos of the recent "super blood" moon.
To get a better focus, I switched to manual focus and used Live View.
However, turning the focus ring precisely was difficult because it is "by wire". When I turned it in live view it was hard to get focus when compared to the old 55-300 screw drive.
I suppose I should go back out at night an use the old lens and see if my live view focus is easier.
Not having tried the lens for that purpose, I don't have any relevant experience, but I do agree that accurate manual focusing is very difficult for the reason that you mention.
02-11-2019, 12:24 PM   #288
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QuoteOriginally posted by Lloyd_Christmas Quote
However, turning the focus ring precisely was difficult because it is "by wire".
I also made moon shots with this lens. Live view, magnified and manual focusing and didn’t observe any problems. But I never had the old lens versions so I can’t compare them.
03-16-2019, 02:54 PM - 1 Like   #289
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light and shadow

K 3 + HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

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04-01-2019, 11:47 AM - 5 Likes   #290
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A host of things were going on today, looking at the 55-300 and DA*60-250 but ended up going to the Tamron 300 300 2.8 and F 1.7x.

First off, Iussed the 1.4 TC on both lenses, deciding it would be abetter comparison if magnified.

The results, the DA 55-300 PLM produced a larger subject, even though I had to enlarge the 60-250 to match the extra reach, IMHO the 60-250 image was still better.

PLM+ 1.4 TC for 420mm


DA* 60-250 + 1.4 TC for 350mm


Answers the question 60-250 or 55-300 for straight up image quality. Mind you for squirrel shots , do you really care? Also with a 9.5 minimum aperture there were some birds with finer feathers (like the White Breasted Nuthatch) the PLM simply would not lock focus on. Yet no problem for the 60-250. What a difference 1.5 stops makes.

I did however finally manage a PLM image at 420mm image of this bird.


A downy wood pecker visited for a bit. Absolutely no problem for the PLM.
04-01-2019, 04:41 PM   #291
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QuoteOriginally posted by normhead Quote
A host of things were going on today, looking at the 55-300 and DA*60-250 but ended up going to the Tamron 300 300 2.8 and F 1.7x.

First off, Iussed the 1.4 TC on both lenses, deciding it would be abetter comparison if magnified.

The results, the DA 55-300 PLM produced a larger subject, even though I had to enlarge the 60-250 to match the extra reach, IMHO the 60-250 image was still better.

PLM+ 1.4 TC for 420mm


DA* 60-250 + 1.4 TC for 350mm


Answers the question 60-250 or 55-300 for straight up image quality. Mind you for squirrel shots , do you really care? Also with a 9.5 minimum aperture there were some birds with finer feathers (like the White Breasted Nuthatch) the PLM simply would not lock focus on. Yet no problem for the 60-250. What a difference 1.5 stops makes.

I did however finally manage a PLM image at 420mm image of this bird.


A downy wood pecker visited for a bit. Absolutely no problem for the PLM.
Norm,

Nice shots all round, to answer your questions and also make some observations , for squirrel shots, while Rupert is sadly gone, Otis is still out there going strong, watch yourself as you have already announced to the world that you are going out in the woods for an extended period

As to the difference between the 55-300 and 60-250, I get the impression that the real difference I see between the shots is contrast not actually sharpness of the image , have you looked at adding contrast (just a little tweek) to the 55-300 shot?

Also your lead in suggests you were going to try the 300/2.8, but no shots?

Lastly, I detect a hint of lateral CA on the 55-300 shot, look closely at the right hand side of the tree on the left side of the frame, if you have a lateral CA tool that change the magnification ratio of the three color layers,(as opposed to a fringe removal tool) I would be willing to bet the 55-300 would get a much sharper appearance.

As a second thought, what if you have the camera use lens correction curves for both? Just a last minute thought here, but if you can correct for the lateral CA, the weight advantage you mention in the 300mm plus thread where you share these images, make the 55-300 the one to take, assuming the loss of 1.5 stops lets you focus.
04-01-2019, 05:06 PM   #292
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QuoteOriginally posted by Lowell Goudge Quote
Norm,

Nice shots all round, to answer your questions and also make some observations , for squirrel shots, while Rupert is sadly gone, Otis is still out there going strong, watch yourself as you have already announced to the world that you are going out in the woods for an extended period



Also your lead in suggests you were going to try the 300/2.8, but no shots?

Lastly, I detect a hint of lateral CA on the 55-300 shot, look closely at the right hand side of the tree on the left side of the frame, if you have a lateral CA tool that change the magnification ratio of the three color layers,(as opposed to a fringe removal tool) I would be willing to bet the 55-300 would get a much sharper appearance.

As a second thought, what if you have the camera use lens correction curves for both? Just a last minute thought here, but if you can correct for the lateral CA, the weight advantage you mention in the 300mm plus thread where you share these images, make the 55-300 the one to take, assuming the loss of 1.5 stops lets you focus.
QuoteQuote:
As to the difference between the 55-300 and 60-250, I get the impression that the real difference I see between the shots is contrast not actually sharpness of the image , have you looked at adding contrast (just a little tweek) to the 55-300 shot?
After pixel peeping on the centre of the frame, the eye which was the focus point. The DA* 60-250 is sharper. I intentionally used the same settings on both images I used the best image I could get on the DA 55-300 and then copied those settings onto the DA*60-250. So this is a raw comparison, not a jpg comparison, what could be done with the jpgs, lens correction etc I really have no idea.

There is a contrast difference, the sun moved a little while I was changing lenses or between the first and last images. But there is a clear difference in sharpness. I'd be very surprised if anything would change that. And in any case, using a lens that requires correction as opposed to one that doesn't still leaves the lens at disadvantage.

The Tamron I used for the last images, but took no comparison images with the other two. Much as I'd love to keep testing all day, I'd like a few good Redpoll images before they go, and neither the 55-300 or a 60-250 is a good small bird lens from my set up. OK for squirrels though.

I'm happy with the DA 55-300 without the TC so I'll probably just stick to that.

04-01-2019, 05:58 PM   #293
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QuoteOriginally posted by normhead Quote
I used the best image I could get on the DA 55-300 and then copied those settings onto the DA*60-250.
That seems a reasonable test. Was the 60-250 worse than the 55-300 without much pp? Either way you get less hassle or better photo.
I am interested about the 55-300+1.4x at the 270 mark though. I consider the 1.4x about a 1.2x because I think the combo at 270 magnified is better than when at 300 not magnified. The lens is just that much better at 270 and below.
04-01-2019, 06:16 PM - 1 Like   #294
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QuoteOriginally posted by swanlefitte Quote
That seems a reasonable test. Was the 60-250 worse than the 55-300 without much pp? Either way you get less hassle or better photo.
I am interested about the 55-300+1.4x at the 270 mark though. I consider the 1.4x about a 1.2x because I think the combo at 270 magnified is better than when at 300 not magnified. The lens is just that much better at 270 and below.
Hmmm, next time I get a sunny day.
04-01-2019, 07:17 PM   #295
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I still guess the 60-250 will be better since 250, 270 is so close. Is there a fall off with the 60-250 at the long end?
04-02-2019, 05:58 AM   #296
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QuoteOriginally posted by swanlefitte Quote
I still guess the 60-250 will be better since 250, 270 is so close. Is there a fall off with the 60-250 at the long end?
Not much..... there's always a bit but as telephoto go, its quite good.

Last edited by normhead; 04-02-2019 at 06:15 AM.
04-02-2019, 06:13 AM   #297
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Very little falloff from 200mm to 250mm. Interesting that it falls off the most at f5.6. Perhaps that data point is simply within testing accuracy since it isn't that substantial.
04-02-2019, 06:17 AM   #298
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QuoteOriginally posted by swanlefitte Quote
Very little falloff from 200mm to 250mm. Interesting that it falls off the most at f5.6. Perhaps that data point is simply within testing accuracy since it isn't that substantial.
It falls off, but still excellent. And better edge performance than many long lenses. which is what helps it double as a landscape lens.
04-02-2019, 10:51 AM - 1 Like   #299
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I'm heading off to the jungles of Costa Rica in a week, and had been planning on bringing the 55-300PLM, but Norm's post got me thinking about the 60-250 instead. So here's my quick comparison test, using the KP and roughly equivalent settings(though the 55-300 was at 260 instead of 250). PLM picture is the top one.
These were both handheld, and the light was good. So maybe not a good test for darker conditions. But the PLM result looks much sharper to me. And the PLM weighs half as much, takes up half as much space, and costs half as much.
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Last edited by SteveinSLC; 04-02-2019 at 10:52 AM. Reason: Add more details
04-02-2019, 11:44 AM   #300
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I think the 60-250 might have slight front focus because the rope at the bottom is just as sharp. I also think the plm is much better at close up than at infinity.
I would try again at a target at least 30 meters away.
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