Which 300mm F* or DA*?

**monochrome** · 02-27-2019, 11:21 AM

Normally the DA*300/2.8 is $400-$500 more than a boxed mint FA*300/4.5, and a bit less than a good (collectible) F*300/2.8.

B&H has the DA on sale for $797 - $300 Instant Savings. People have paid $800 for the F* and FA* 300/4-5’s recently. I’d buy the DA* at $800 every time (but I already have the FA* 4.5)

angerdan · 02-27-2019, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

a good (collectible) F*300/2.8

Would be a dream lens, but the FA*300/2.8 is great.

steephill · 02-27-2019, 02:42 PM - **1 Like**

You can use a tripod mount intended for a range of Canon lenses on the FA*300 f4.5. Look for Tripod Mount Ring A (W) - W means white and there is also a B version which is a different colour.

**gofour3** · 02-28-2019, 09:54 AM

Originally posted by mikesbike

My understanding is the F* version requires both the camera and lens to be switched to MF for manual focusing.

Correct, but not if you are using a manual focus film camera.

I don't own an AF camera, so all my AF lenses are used as MF ones. The F300/4.5 is the best handling AF lens that I have ever used as a manual focus lens and manual focusing the F300/4.5 is way smoother than any FA Series lens I own. (This is probably due to " Pentax's great backwards capability", as the "F" Series were Pentax's first AF lenses and many people who purchased the F300/4.5 used it on a MF film body)

Phil.

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02-27-2019, 11:21 AM	#16
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Normally the DA300/2.8 is $400-$500 more than a boxed mint FA300/4.5, and a bit less than a good (collectible) F300/2.8. B&H has the DA on sale for $797 - $300 Instant Savings. People have paid $800 for the F and FA* 300/4-5’s recently. I’d buy the DA* at $800 every time (but I already have the FA* 4.5)

02-27-2019, 12:14 PM	#17
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Originally posted by monochrome a good (collectible) F300/2.8 Would be a dream lens, but the FA300/2.8 is great.

02-27-2019, 02:42 PM - 1 Like	#18
steephill Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 585	You can use a tripod mount intended for a range of Canon lenses on the FA*300 f4.5. Look for Tripod Mount Ring A (W) - W means white and there is also a B version which is a different colour.

02-28-2019, 09:54 AM	#19
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	Originally posted by mikesbike My understanding is the F* version requires both the camera and lens to be switched to MF for manual focusing. Correct, but not if you are using a manual focus film camera. I don't own an AF camera, so all my AF lenses are used as MF ones. The F300/4.5 is the best handling AF lens that I have ever used as a manual focus lens and manual focusing the F300/4.5 is way smoother than any FA Series lens I own. (This is probably due to " Pentax's great backwards capability", as the "F" Series were Pentax's first AF lenses and many people who purchased the F300/4.5 used it on a MF film body) Phil.