HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE - Show us what it can do, what it CAN'T!

**CBM** · 02-19-2022, 06:15 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Des

Fine shot Chris. Amazing how much detail is revealed when you get close. We have another species of Anhinga (Australasian Darter) - they don't have a blue iris or blue-green skin around the eye like this.

Thanks Des - I have other shots of Anhingas that do not appear to have this coloration around the eyes, so it was a big surprise when I saw that through the viewfinder.

normhead · 02-19-2022, 07:29 PM

We've had these guys from time to time peck our metal roof at 6am... very unpleasant. Fortunately it's not ever year.

swanlefitte · 02-20-2022, 09:17 AM

Originally posted by CBM

Never saw one with green eye shadow, but then again, I don't think I've ever been this close.

I didn't even know of this bird. Your photo made me curious, which is the definition of a great nature photo to me. There are very few photos of the colors and indeed males. I noticed a few had red eyes. I wonder if this is more a variation or age. Loons have red eyes. Many hawks' eyes turn red as they mature.

sebberry · 02-20-2022, 10:49 PM - **2 Likes**

This little raccoon sleeping away in the tree.

I have to say, I am quite impressed at the 55-300 PLM lens.

swanlefitte · 02-22-2022, 01:13 PM - **1 Like**

My ks-2 and my 55-300PLM were put to an extreme test today. They both performed well and came out alive. It was 7F(-14C) -10F(-23)C windchill in a blizzard. I have been out in rain and snow and colder weather but nothing like this. I had to scrape ice of the screen to see my exposure. My eye piece was packed with ice. My hood had a snow drift inside it. Normally when I come in I put it in a ziplock to warm up past the dewpoint. With ice, that seemed a bad idea. I normally blot off all water or brush off all snow. With ice that was impossible.
I left it inside for 10 minutes while I shoveled some snow. I blotted what I could and scraped what I could. I then gently used a hair dryer without heat to lightly blow the water around. I turned it on it all is good.
A couple shots from the day. Look how the crow still has focus on the eye even though I really couldn't see through the viewfinder.

normhead · 02-25-2022, 03:29 PM - **2 Likes**

K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM

Today out at the feeder... no Blue Jay images today, how weird is that?
Downy woodpecker

Red breasted Nuthatch

Evening Grosbeak (F)

Pine Siskins on the Sunflower seed feeder.

Pine Siskin on the old porch rail.

Mourning Dove.

Chickadee

Seen but not photographed. Male Evening Grosbeaks, Blue Jays, Female Purple Finches, Pine Grosbeaks... but hey... tomorrow's another day.

swanlefitte · 02-25-2022, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by normhead

K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM

Today out at the feeder... no Blue Jay images today, how weird is that?

That is weird

. Nice pics as expected, of course.
I actually have a question. Have you ever taken a photo of a woodpecker just as it pecks? I haven't and in most of my picks they have their mouth open. I imagine they have to have the beak shut or they experience something similar to me biting my cheek.

normhead · 02-25-2022, 08:04 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by swanlefitte

That is weird

. Nice pics as expected, of course.
I actually have a question. Have you ever taken a photo of a woodpecker just as it pecks? I haven't and in most of my picks they have their mouth open. I imagine they have to have the beak shut or they experience something similar to me biting my cheek.

I have few pics of their tongues out in the hole. I assume that would be why the beak was open, and about to pull something out of the hole. . But, I've never caught a woodpecker with wood chips in the air. I would have kept that. But when they go tap on frozen suet, their beaks are definitely completely closed. If they don't have a clean beak I usually toss bird pictures, so I have no suet beak images.

swanlefitte · 02-26-2022, 01:17 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by normhead

I've never caught a woodpecker with wood chips in the air. I would have kept that.

Thanks for the info. Now I want the wood chips photo. Maybe a camera with 120fps does have a use for me.

normhead · 02-26-2022, 02:59 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by swanlefitte

Thanks for the info. Now I want the wood chips photo. Maybe a camera with 120fps does have a use for me.

I'll race you for it....

normhead · 03-04-2022, 01:45 PM - **1 Like**

We had a bit of sunshine today...

K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM with HD DA 1.4 TC

swanlefitte · 03-04-2022, 03:08 PM - **4 Likes**

Following Wild Turkeys when I came across this one hunting in the middle of the day.

@Kerrowdown this is my favorite walnut grove. I can probably take red squirrels of my list of critters I see here.

**CBM** · 03-04-2022, 09:19 PM - **2 Likes**

Nesting season getting underway in south Florida - an Ibis staking out a site.

**Des** · 03-05-2022, 07:43 PM

Originally posted by swanlefitte

I came across this one hunting in the middle of the day

I've never seen an owl in daytime, but it looks rather sad. In a novel I read once, the author used the phrase, "sullen as a daytime owl", which seems apt.

I have the K-S2 as well. It was less than $A600 new in 2016. Put it with my $A450 55-300 PLM, and it's an astounding combination for around $US700. Dare I say, value we will never see again in a new camera/lens?

Originally posted by CBM

Ibis staking out a site

Excellent shot Chris.

swanlefitte · 03-05-2022, 07:59 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Des

I've never seen an owl in daytime, but it looks rather sad. In a novel I read once, the author used the phrase, "sullen as a daytime owl", which seems apt.

.

I pass another barred owl most days and it seems to enjoy watching me. (if it is asleep I just pass). This one is pensive. I upset it and it is looking for its escape. I felt bad and only took 2 shots. I circled as best I could to the left in thick brush and it flew to the right never to be seen again. I proceeded to piss off a red tail hawk watching wild turkeys 20 minutes later. Then I pissed off a white tailed deer and many cardinals. I have never felt like such an intruder in all my walks.

02-22-2022, 01:13 PM - 1 Like	#1145
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	My ks-2 and my 55-300PLM were put to an extreme test today. They both performed well and came out alive. It was 7F(-14C) -10F(-23)C windchill in a blizzard. I have been out in rain and snow and colder weather but nothing like this. I had to scrape ice of the screen to see my exposure. My eye piece was packed with ice. My hood had a snow drift inside it. Normally when I come in I put it in a ziplock to warm up past the dewpoint. With ice, that seemed a bad idea. I normally blot off all water or brush off all snow. With ice that was impossible. I left it inside for 10 minutes while I shoveled some snow. I blotted what I could and scraped what I could. I then gently used a hair dryer without heat to lightly blow the water around. I turned it on it all is good. A couple shots from the day. Look how the crow still has focus on the eye even though I really couldn't see through the viewfinder. Last edited by swanlefitte; 01-01-2023 at 04:06 PM.

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02-19-2022, 06:15 PM - 1 Like	#1141
CBM Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2021 Location: Delray Beach, Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 377	Originally posted by Des Fine shot Chris. Amazing how much detail is revealed when you get close. We have another species of Anhinga (Australasian Darter) - they don't have a blue iris or blue-green skin around the eye like this. Thanks Des - I have other shots of Anhingas that do not appear to have this coloration around the eyes, so it was a big surprise when I saw that through the viewfinder.

02-19-2022, 07:29 PM	#1142
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	We've had these guys from time to time peck our metal roof at 6am... very unpleasant. Fortunately it's not ever year.

02-20-2022, 09:17 AM	#1143
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Originally posted by CBM Never saw one with green eye shadow, but then again, I don't think I've ever been this close. I didn't even know of this bird. Your photo made me curious, which is the definition of a great nature photo to me. There are very few photos of the colors and indeed males. I noticed a few had red eyes. I wonder if this is more a variation or age. Loons have red eyes. Many hawks' eyes turn red as they mature.

02-20-2022, 10:49 PM - 2 Likes	#1144
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135	This little raccoon sleeping away in the tree. I have to say, I am quite impressed at the 55-300 PLM lens.

02-25-2022, 03:29 PM - 2 Likes	#1146
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM Today out at the feeder... no Blue Jay images today, how weird is that? Downy woodpecker Red breasted Nuthatch Evening Grosbeak (F) Pine Siskins on the Sunflower seed feeder. Pine Siskin on the old porch rail. Mourning Dove. Chickadee Seen but not photographed. Male Evening Grosbeaks, Blue Jays, Female Purple Finches, Pine Grosbeaks... but hey... tomorrow's another day.

02-25-2022, 05:13 PM	#1147
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Originally posted by normhead K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM Today out at the feeder... no Blue Jay images today, how weird is that? That is weird . Nice pics as expected, of course. I actually have a question. Have you ever taken a photo of a woodpecker just as it pecks? I haven't and in most of my picks they have their mouth open. I imagine they have to have the beak shut or they experience something similar to me biting my cheek.

02-25-2022, 08:04 PM - 1 Like	#1148
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by swanlefitte That is weird . Nice pics as expected, of course. I actually have a question. Have you ever taken a photo of a woodpecker just as it pecks? I haven't and in most of my picks they have their mouth open. I imagine they have to have the beak shut or they experience something similar to me biting my cheek. I have few pics of their tongues out in the hole. I assume that would be why the beak was open, and about to pull something out of the hole. . But, I've never caught a woodpecker with wood chips in the air. I would have kept that. But when they go tap on frozen suet, their beaks are definitely completely closed. If they don't have a clean beak I usually toss bird pictures, so I have no suet beak images.

02-26-2022, 01:17 PM - 1 Like	#1149
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Originally posted by normhead I've never caught a woodpecker with wood chips in the air. I would have kept that. Thanks for the info. Now I want the wood chips photo. Maybe a camera with 120fps does have a use for me.

02-26-2022, 02:59 PM - 1 Like	#1150
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by swanlefitte Thanks for the info. Now I want the wood chips photo. Maybe a camera with 120fps does have a use for me. I'll race you for it....

03-04-2022, 01:45 PM - 1 Like	#1151
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	We had a bit of sunshine today... K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM with HD DA 1.4 TC

03-04-2022, 03:08 PM - 4 Likes	#1152
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Following Wild Turkeys when I came across this one hunting in the middle of the day. @Kerrowdown this is my favorite walnut grove. I can probably take red squirrels of my list of critters I see here.

03-05-2022, 07:43 PM	#1154
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by swanlefitte I came across this one hunting in the middle of the day I've never seen an owl in daytime, but it looks rather sad. In a novel I read once, the author used the phrase, "sullen as a daytime owl", which seems apt. I have the K-S2 as well. It was less than $A600 new in 2016. Put it with my $A450 55-300 PLM, and it's an astounding combination for around $US700. Dare I say, value we will never see again in a new camera/lens? Originally posted by CBM Ibis staking out a site Excellent shot Chris.

03-05-2022, 07:59 PM - 1 Like	#1155
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Originally posted by Des I've never seen an owl in daytime, but it looks rather sad. In a novel I read once, the author used the phrase, "sullen as a daytime owl", which seems apt. . I pass another barred owl most days and it seems to enjoy watching me. (if it is asleep I just pass). This one is pensive. I upset it and it is looking for its escape. I felt bad and only took 2 shots. I circled as best I could to the left in thick brush and it flew to the right never to be seen again. I proceeded to piss off a red tail hawk watching wild turkeys 20 minutes later. Then I pissed off a white tailed deer and many cardinals. I have never felt like such an intruder in all my walks.