Da* 300mm f4 or 55-300 PLM with 1.4x teleconverter

Unregistered User · 04-20-2020, 07:08 AM

Originally posted by swanlefitte

The plm works with the newest 1.4x tc. In post #9 I posted a picture from the combo.

I believe you, but still Ricoh does not mention the PLM as being compatible. Only the SMC and the HD 4-5.8 ED are on the list. I guess that from the PLM the diaphragm will not work with the rear converter. And I can find only one 1.4x converter. So it will probably work with (some?) limitations if you put the two together.

jgnfld · 04-20-2020, 04:36 PM - **1 Like**

"I need some advice on long telephoto for my Pentax system. I plan on buying the 1.4x teleconverter (the new one) and some telephoto for it."

I have tested my 55-300 PLM with and without the 1.4x teleconverter on a K-70 and cannot detect any increase in resolution in distant targets including smaller text on oil tanks 2 km away at 300mm. Images are smaller FOV, of course, but contain no perceptible additional detail. That is with now 2 55-300s (dropped one that bounced and rolled down a slope splitting into two parts. VERY sad.) so I don't think it's an individual lens issue.

That is not to say I am not very satisfied with the 55-300PLM. I am. It is one of my two most used lenses along with the 16-85mm. It's just that the teleconverter does not really add value for these two zooms.

Re. "will it work" questions...the combo certainly works on my K-70 and did on my previous K-50.

maciekpruski · 04-21-2020, 05:34 AM

Thanks for the responses!
Based on the answers I ditched the idea to get the 55-300 PLM and the teleconverter.
DA 300mm is quite expensive, I have to think about it for a while.

So now I'm wondering about using the 1.4x teleconverter with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8, has anyone tried this?

normhead · 04-21-2020, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by jgnfld

I have tested my 55-300 PLM with and without the 1.4x teleconverter on a K-70 and cannot detect any increase in resolution in distant targets including smaller text on oil tanks 2 km away at 300mm. Images are smaller FOV, of course, but contain no perceptible additional detail. That is with now 2 55-300s (dropped one that bounced and rolled down a slope splitting into two parts. VERY sad.) so I don't think it's an individual lens issue.

Understanding folks saying a TC doesn't ad more detail. - PentaxForums.com
Sorry the images are gone, thanks Photobucket. Hopefully you get the gist without the photos.

My method was find something with print in various sizes. Back the tripod out until the the lens in question can no longer resolve the small print. From the same spot, put the TC on and see if the TC resolves what the lens alone couldn't. I'm guessing you'll be surprised. If there is one thing people need to understand , its' that not all the resolution available from the lens is needed for every images. IN fact, what I've found is, in many images you get pretty much the same images from 16 MP and 36 MP sensors. But every now and then an image comes along that can actually use the extra resolution.

For the most part, my guess is higher resolution is optimal at most 5% of my shooting. YMMV.

I really have to go find those pictures and repost them.

To my mind, the worst assumption commonly made by people on the forum is that better lenses get you better image in every circumstance. It leads to a lot of heartbreak when people break the bank for an expensive piece of glass, and it doesn't change their photography much.

AN update of the TC post..
My first series of images went as follows... taken at about 40 feet, with not a lot of detail in the test subject.
DA*200

DA*200 plus 1.4

DA*200 plus 1.7

DA*200 by itself enlarged to the same size as the DA*200 2.8 plus 1.7x AF Adapter

Both TC's are clearly better than the DA*200 image on it's own.

Last edited by normhead; 04-21-2020 at 12:04 PM.

**caliscouser** · 04-23-2020, 09:38 AM

Originally posted by maciekpruski

So now I'm wondering about using the 1.4x teleconverter with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8, has anyone tried this?

Is the Tamron that strong at the long end? If not a teleconverter won't help much.

What is your budget?

If wildlife shooting is important and you need 300mm+ for it then the DA*300 is what you want. It is sharp wide-open at f4 and with the TC it is sharp wide open at f5.6.

The 55-300 PLM can get good results (perhaps good enough?), but only if the light is good and focus is nailed. But it is not in the same league as the DA*300 at 300mm.

rawr · 04-23-2020, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by maciekpruski

So now I'm wondering about using the 1.4x teleconverter with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8, has anyone tried this?

It seems that the Tamron works OK with TC's, which is not common with other 70-200's. But there is still some resolution loss.
Tamron SP AF 70-200 mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO review - Image resolution - LensTip.com

**southlander** · 06-20-2021, 04:04 AM

Originally posted by jgnfld

"I need some advice on long telephoto for my Pentax system. I plan on buying the 1.4x teleconverter (the new one) and some telephoto for it."

I have tested my 55-300 PLM with and without the 1.4x teleconverter on a K-70 and cannot detect any increase in resolution in distant targets including smaller text on oil tanks 2 km away at 300mm. Images are smaller FOV, of course, but contain no perceptible additional detail. That is with now 2 55-300s (dropped one that bounced and rolled down a slope splitting into two parts. VERY sad.) so I don't think it's an individual lens issue.

That is not to say I am not very satisfied with the 55-300PLM. I am. It is one of my two most used lenses along with the 16-85mm. It's just that the teleconverter does not really add value for these two zooms.

Re. "will it work" questions...the combo certainly works on my K-70 and did on my previous K-50.

At 2km range I would be expecting that atmospheric haze and heat distortion is the limiting factor for resolution, not the lens. I would suggest repeating your tests at 15-20 metres and see what you conclude from that.

Bikepacking_Journey · 05-28-2023, 12:41 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

I would not pair the 55-300 zoom with the tele-converter; you're losing light as it it with the teleconverter and that zoom isn't going to respond well to it...

I always suggest the prime over the zoom at the long end... you already have the 70-200; adding the DA 300 (or FA* or F* 300) will just be the capper...

Yep. Shame I didn't read this thread before. I bought 1.4 tc and it doesn't work well with 55-300plm. Images are not sharp.

northcoastgreg · 06-01-2023, 08:22 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by maciekpruski

So now I'm wondering about using the 1.4x teleconverter with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8, has anyone tried this?

This is an old thread, but it looks like this question was never given a fully adequate answer. I've used the 1.4x converter with the Tamron. In terms of image quality, there's absolutely nothing to complain about. If anything, the TC seems to improve the color rendering of the Tamron. The main issue I had with it was AF reliability. It was really hit and miss. When it hit, I got an excellent image, sharp and contrasty with good color. But when it missed it missed. Now that was all done with the KP. Perhaps the combo would work better with the K-3iii.

Here's an example of what the combo can do at 280mm:

**Mallee Boy** · 06-02-2023, 10:51 PM

I have a Sigma EX DG 70-200 f2.8 which I use commercially for sport photography on the K3iii. An awesome set up that rarely lets me down, I have occassionally added the TC 1.4 to it, and it works OK, but reaching the (or over reaching) the limits of handheld. I use a mono or tri pod with that set up, so cant see why the Tamron would behave any differently.

04-20-2020, 04:36 PM - 1 Like	#17
jgnfld Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,789	"I need some advice on long telephoto for my Pentax system. I plan on buying the 1.4x teleconverter (the new one) and some telephoto for it." I have tested my 55-300 PLM with and without the 1.4x teleconverter on a K-70 and cannot detect any increase in resolution in distant targets including smaller text on oil tanks 2 km away at 300mm. Images are smaller FOV, of course, but contain no perceptible additional detail. That is with now 2 55-300s (dropped one that bounced and rolled down a slope splitting into two parts. VERY sad.) so I don't think it's an individual lens issue. That is not to say I am not very satisfied with the 55-300PLM. I am. It is one of my two most used lenses along with the 16-85mm. It's just that the teleconverter does not really add value for these two zooms. Re. "will it work" questions...the combo certainly works on my K-70 and did on my previous K-50. Last edited by jgnfld; 04-20-2020 at 05:36 PM.

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04-20-2020, 07:08 AM	#16
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by swanlefitte The plm works with the newest 1.4x tc. In post #9 I posted a picture from the combo. I believe you, but still Ricoh does not mention the PLM as being compatible. Only the SMC and the HD 4-5.8 ED are on the list. I guess that from the PLM the diaphragm will not work with the rear converter. And I can find only one 1.4x converter. So it will probably work with (some?) limitations if you put the two together.

04-21-2020, 05:34 AM	#18
maciekpruski New Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Thanks for the responses! Based on the answers I ditched the idea to get the 55-300 PLM and the teleconverter. DA 300mm is quite expensive, I have to think about it for a while. So now I'm wondering about using the 1.4x teleconverter with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8, has anyone tried this?

04-21-2020, 10:23 AM	#19
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by jgnfld I have tested my 55-300 PLM with and without the 1.4x teleconverter on a K-70 and cannot detect any increase in resolution in distant targets including smaller text on oil tanks 2 km away at 300mm. Images are smaller FOV, of course, but contain no perceptible additional detail. That is with now 2 55-300s (dropped one that bounced and rolled down a slope splitting into two parts. VERY sad.) so I don't think it's an individual lens issue. Understanding folks saying a TC doesn't ad more detail. - PentaxForums.com Sorry the images are gone, thanks Photobucket. Hopefully you get the gist without the photos. My method was find something with print in various sizes. Back the tripod out until the the lens in question can no longer resolve the small print. From the same spot, put the TC on and see if the TC resolves what the lens alone couldn't. I'm guessing you'll be surprised. If there is one thing people need to understand , its' that not all the resolution available from the lens is needed for every images. IN fact, what I've found is, in many images you get pretty much the same images from 16 MP and 36 MP sensors. But every now and then an image comes along that can actually use the extra resolution. For the most part, my guess is higher resolution is optimal at most 5% of my shooting. YMMV. I really have to go find those pictures and repost them. To my mind, the worst assumption commonly made by people on the forum is that better lenses get you better image in every circumstance. It leads to a lot of heartbreak when people break the bank for an expensive piece of glass, and it doesn't change their photography much. AN update of the TC post.. My first series of images went as follows... taken at about 40 feet, with not a lot of detail in the test subject. DA200 DA200 plus 1.4 DA200 plus 1.7 DA200 by itself enlarged to the same size as the DA200 2.8 plus 1.7x AF Adapter Both TC's are clearly better than the DA200 image on it's own. Last edited by normhead; 04-21-2020 at 12:04 PM.

04-23-2020, 09:38 AM	#20
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	Originally posted by maciekpruski So now I'm wondering about using the 1.4x teleconverter with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8, has anyone tried this? Is the Tamron that strong at the long end? If not a teleconverter won't help much. What is your budget? If wildlife shooting is important and you need 300mm+ for it then the DA300 is what you want. It is sharp wide-open at f4 and with the TC it is sharp wide open at f5.6. The 55-300 PLM can get good results (perhaps good enough?), but only if the light is good and focus is nailed. But it is not in the same league as the DA300 at 300mm.

04-23-2020, 07:15 PM	#21
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by maciekpruski So now I'm wondering about using the 1.4x teleconverter with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8, has anyone tried this? It seems that the Tamron works OK with TC's, which is not common with other 70-200's. But there is still some resolution loss. Tamron SP AF 70-200 mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO review - Image resolution - LensTip.com

06-20-2021, 04:04 AM	#22
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	Originally posted by jgnfld "I need some advice on long telephoto for my Pentax system. I plan on buying the 1.4x teleconverter (the new one) and some telephoto for it." I have tested my 55-300 PLM with and without the 1.4x teleconverter on a K-70 and cannot detect any increase in resolution in distant targets including smaller text on oil tanks 2 km away at 300mm. Images are smaller FOV, of course, but contain no perceptible additional detail. That is with now 2 55-300s (dropped one that bounced and rolled down a slope splitting into two parts. VERY sad.) so I don't think it's an individual lens issue. That is not to say I am not very satisfied with the 55-300PLM. I am. It is one of my two most used lenses along with the 16-85mm. It's just that the teleconverter does not really add value for these two zooms. Re. "will it work" questions...the combo certainly works on my K-70 and did on my previous K-50. At 2km range I would be expecting that atmospheric haze and heat distortion is the limiting factor for resolution, not the lens. I would suggest repeating your tests at 15-20 metres and see what you conclude from that.

05-28-2023, 12:41 PM - 1 Like	#23
Bikepacking_Journey Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Southampton Photos: Albums Posts: 35	Originally posted by pepperberry farm I would not pair the 55-300 zoom with the tele-converter; you're losing light as it it with the teleconverter and that zoom isn't going to respond well to it... I always suggest the prime over the zoom at the long end... you already have the 70-200; adding the DA 300 (or FA* or F* 300) will just be the capper... Yep. Shame I didn't read this thread before. I bought 1.4 tc and it doesn't work well with 55-300plm. Images are not sharp.

06-01-2023, 08:22 AM - 3 Likes	#24
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	Originally posted by maciekpruski So now I'm wondering about using the 1.4x teleconverter with the Tamron 70-200 f2.8, has anyone tried this? This is an old thread, but it looks like this question was never given a fully adequate answer. I've used the 1.4x converter with the Tamron. In terms of image quality, there's absolutely nothing to complain about. If anything, the TC seems to improve the color rendering of the Tamron. The main issue I had with it was AF reliability. It was really hit and miss. When it hit, I got an excellent image, sharp and contrasty with good color. But when it missed it missed. Now that was all done with the KP. Perhaps the combo would work better with the K-3iii. Here's an example of what the combo can do at 280mm:

06-02-2023, 10:51 PM	#25
Mallee Boy Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,904	I have a Sigma EX DG 70-200 f2.8 which I use commercially for sport photography on the K3iii. An awesome set up that rarely lets me down, I have occassionally added the TC 1.4 to it, and it works OK, but reaching the (or over reaching) the limits of handheld. I use a mono or tri pod with that set up, so cant see why the Tamron would behave any differently.