[rojaba]

My belated Supermoon pics (yesterday was too cloudy) taken with a K3 and a 35 year old F*300 f4.5 lens. Hand-held, 1/1000 sec, f11, ISO 800

My wallet was afraid you were going to show me something like that

That's brilliant

---------- Post added 05-27-2021 at 10:19 AM ----------

I found that when buying a zoom lens instead of a prime, I ended up using it at the long end primarily and was just never really satisfied with the results....

this is so true

[Roadboat24]

Obviously the new 150-450 would be nice but it hurts budget wise

Just go with the 150-450mm, You don't Really need two Kidneys....

[TwoUptons]

which would of course be a lot cheaper, but I wonder how much of a step up it is from the Tamron

I have the Tamron, and on film or the K-10, it is very good. On the K-01 it purple fringed too much but wasn’t always terrible. On the KP, it is showing its age, with abundant purple fringing and some real weakness at the long end.

I recently got the Pentax DA-L 55-300 (the cheap one) for a very good price. Apart from a lack of macro, it is better in nearly every way than the Tamron on the KP.

I expect the K3iii will be similar... and the newer PLM lens is much better regarded than my DA-L...

-Eric

[brewmaster15]

I had both the DA *300 and the F*300 until recently. I bought the DA *300 when my beloved F*300 started having issues with AF. I thought I would just shelve the F* and use the DA *.. That didnt happen.. I tried a few times and just went back to the F*. Its not that the DA * isnt good.... it is. I just really liked the f*300.

That copy of F*300 was with me for years and years.. bought it new. It finally gave up the ghost.. so alls I have is the DA*300.. for now.The moment I find a replacement thats reasonably priced I have zero doubt I will buy another F*300. Its at the top of my got to have list.

Al

[mikesbike]

As they are roughly the same price, give or take $100, I wonder whether I should go with the old version (if I can get my hands on a clean one, only driven once by an old lady) or the new one?

I am surprised at this old used "F* " lens being close in price to a new DA* 300mm lens! The new lens of course will offer silent AF and WR. Optical performance will be quite close. The "F* version and the FA* version have the same optical formula. The FA* version, which I have and am very happy with, is also a bit more compact compared with the F* but does not feature a tripod mount, while it does present an upgrade in being able to switch between AF/MF using just the lens control, while the F* from what I've read, requires simultaneous switching of both lens and body controls.

I've had the DA* 200mm f/2.8 for quite some time and so far the SDM AF is still ok. If the DA* 300mm is anything like the SDM on my DA* 200mm, I can tell you my screw-driven FA* 300mm has faster AF especially when used on my KP.

[zapp]

The main advantage of the F* over the DA* is weight and size. Image quality is similar. I own the FA* and it is quite small as well, but the FA* lacks any type of tripod ring which bothers some people. Some also prefer the sdm silent focus of the DA*, others avoid it due to sdm failure potential.

A new DA* is at least 30 years younger than F* and can be up to 30 years younger than FA*. We tend to forget age sometimes. Some of the FA/F stuff is really old.

[angerdan]

A new DA* is at least 30 years younger than F* and can be up to 30 years younger than FA*. We tend to forget age sometimes. Some of the FA/F stuff is really old.

Age don't necessarily relates to performance or quality.

[RICHARD L.]

The Sun is over 4,5 billion years old, so what is the problem using a 30 year old optical instrument to gather its visble radiations ?

Regards

[MossyRocks]

A new DA* is at least 30 years younger than F* and can be up to 30 years younger than FA*. We tend to forget age sometimes. Some of the FA/F stuff is really old.

So you would turn your nose up at a SMC A * 400mm F/2.8 ED [IF] because they could be really old even though that lens is a legendary slab of glass that for most people would be perfect wide open and to get to perfect for astro shooting only requires stopping down 1/2 stop. Old doesn't mean it can't be great, there are some things that have been a solved problem for a long to very long time. For one type of shooting I do using that logic my old S-M-C 50/1.4 Takumar should be an absolutely awful lens and the new D FA * 50/1.4 should stomp it into the dirt but given samples I've seen and what I've shot for astro shooting both lenses really want to be run at f/2.8 and at that point the results are basically indistinguishable except I can brag that my lens cost me like $40 and not $1500.

A 300mm f/4ish have been very good lenses for a rather long time when they became a solved problems in the late 80s and no one set out to make a bad one.

[termy]

i was asking about them 300 primes not that long ago, actually.

Take a look at the discussion generated back then (i paste the link below).

One big advantage of the DA*300, is the 1.4 metres minimum focus distance. Very handy.

Pentax 300mm primes - PentaxForums.com

[noelpolar]

Generally.... the F*300 thing is all about it's metal and compact build.... and it's awesome extend and screw hood. Just super special. Image quality is up there with pentax's best.... downsides are 2m MFD and loudish screw drive focus.... fwiw.... it is the only one that fits in a smallish bag ..... now....

standing still.... a 21mm on K3 shot...


then from same spot F*300 .... croped a bit .... yes thats a fly.


Small size helps it go unoticed on the street


Best of luck with your choice!

[termy]

Generally.... the F*300 thing is all about it's metal and compact build.... and it's awesome extend and screw hood. Just super special. Image quality is up there with pentax's best.... downsides are 2m MFD and loudish screw drive focus.... fwiw.... it is the only one that fits in a smallish bag ..... now....

standing still.... a 21mm on K3 shot...


then from same spot F*300 .... croped a bit .... yes thats a fly.

I never cease to be amazed by this F*300 "fly revelation" by noel.
And will never forget.

Yes. The overall design of the F*300 is just very good (that built-in hood and the very compact size).

[brewmaster15]

If anyone has a good copy of a f*300 and they wish to "upgrade" to a newer DA 300.. Im pretty sure you will not have a problem selling it at a reasonable price. The biggest problem with this lens is sparcity of available copies that are good. You usually have to pry them from cold dead fingers(figuratively of course)...where as the DA is of course available at many locations.
Al

[i_trax]

there is one FA*300 on eBay.com.au right now , he is willing to accept offers ( I checked ).
I can not post the link here ( I am pretty sure ).
Great lens , I already have one.

[RICHARD L.]

Plus, on an APSc sensor (like a K3), they have a Field of View equivalent to a 450 mm telephoto in FF. Picture taken with an FA* 300 mm f/4.5 on tripod, Montreal's Olympic Stadium as seen from Mount Royal.