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07-29-2021, 11:55 PM - 14 Likes   #1
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DA 560 Compared to F* 250-600 (Lots of Photos)

I recently purchased the DA 560 just in time for my trip to Denali and decided to bring both the 560 and my F* 250-600 (here's my thread about getting the 250-600: Acquiring the F* 250-600 (LOTS of Photos) - PentaxForums.com). Both lenses performed exceptionally, but they are quite different. The 560 focuses quickly and hunts less than the 250-600, but I also had the 560 limiter switch set to on. The 250-600 does not have a limit switch. The 560 locked focus quickly and accurately. I prefer primes, but the zoom range of the 250-600 is hard to beat.


This is my K10D mounted to the 560. I didn't have my K-1 when I took this photo so I used my Nikon D4 and 24-70 f/2.8G. If you're bored you can read my thread comparing the K10D and the K-1 here: Ks, 1s, and 0s - My Journey from the K1000 to the K10D to the K-1 (Lots of Photos) - PentaxForums.com.


This was taken in Denali National Park with the 560 on a tripod with the K-1 ii. 1/500, f/6.3, ISO 200

The photo above is edited. Below I'll post the unedited photo to compare unedited photos from the 250-600.

I bought the 560 used, knowing the barrel had a slight wobble. There are some screws loose in one of the sections of the lens and a camera shop is repairing the lens now. I quite like the LensCoat and the B+W Pro 112mm filter included with the sale. NOTE: I unscrewed the 112mm filter from the 560 and it fit to the front of my F* 250-600. There has been a lot of discussion about whether the F* lens allows filters or not. It does. The threads are not the typical filter size (which may confuse some), but the 112mm filter isn't quite a typical size either. There has also been some discussion on whether the Pentax PF 112mm filter is part of the optical formula on the F* lens. Mine didn't come with one, so I ordered it from Japan yesterday. Once it arrives I'll let you know if it improves performance of the lens.


DA 560 on the left, F* 250-600 on the right, both lens hoods collapsed.



The 250-600 is a large lens. It's heavy too. Although I have taken several pictures hand-held with it, I wouldn't recommend this.

Hand-held image taken with the K10D and F* 250-600. 250mm, 1/100, f/5.6, ISO 100


Unedited and hand-held image from the K-1 ii and F* 250-600 in the rain. 320mm, 1/320, f/6.3, ISO 400

The 560 is longer than the 250-600, but about half the weight, making it easily hand-holdable compared to the much heavier lens. Although the weight is manageable, it's length makes it awkward to hold.


Both lenses on tripods with hoods collapsed. Below the image has the built-in hoods expanded.



I have read complaints online about the tripod foot on the 560 being too far forward. It's nicely balanced with my K10D, but the heavier K-1 makes it imbalanced. To fix this I bought a 200mm quick release plate and attached the rear of it to the tripod.





I have been using a Wimberley Gimbal head with the Wimberley P-40 (about 145mm long) plate for the 250-600. This head was too big to pack to Alaska with my 560 and 250-600, plus my tripod, camera bag, and many other lenses. I purchased a Vanguard Alta BH-250 head rated for 44 pounds of gear on it. This supported the 560 perfectly and worked quite well with the 250-600 at a much more compact size. I did have to crank the knob pretty tight (harder than I would have liked for a head claiming to support 44 pounds) to stabilize the 250-600 though. The Alta BH-300 lists a 66 pound capacity, but this head would not have fit in my tripod bag.


I still think the K10D is the best DSLR ever made.




Vanguard Alta BH-250







In use I thought the 560 was a little sharper. This could be due the heavier 250-600 and possible vibrations due to the weight, or it could be due to it not having a 112mm Pentax PF filter, as mentioned above. Once it arrives I'll take some additional photos to see if sharpness improves. The 250-600 creates incredible images and doesn't suffer from a lack of sharpness, I just found the 560 to be a bit sharper. This could also be due to HD coatings on the much newer lens. When photographing wildlife I found myself reaching for the 560 much more often than the 250-600 during the last two weeks in Alaska.


Unedited image from the K-1 ii and 560 around 4 p.m. 1/500, f/6.3, ISO 200


Unedited image from the K-1 ii and 250-600 around 6:30 p.m. The light was changing quite a bit during the different times so it's not an exact comparison. 600mm, 1/320, f/5.6, ISO 200


Unedited image from the K-1 ii and 250-600 around 6:30 p.m. 600mm, 1/320, f/5.6, ISO 200

The photos below were taken on a different day. It was sunny and harsh light was coming from the sun. I thought the 560 with HD coatings would do better with purple fringing, but many lenses would struggle with the high contrast. The 250-600 didn't show any purple fringing.


K-1 ii and 560. 1/200, f/5.6, ISO 100


100% crop from 560


K-1 ii and 250-600. 600mm, 1/200, f/5.6, ISO 100


100% crop from 250-600

07-30-2021, 02:46 AM   #2
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Taking handheld shots with these beasts must be tricky.... I love the bison photos. The focus of the zoom lens is obviously an issue, but I imagine a sturdy tripod should make things simpler. Of course you couldn't care less about the luggage , carrying both of them..
07-30-2021, 03:28 AM   #3
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There are people for whom one impossible challenge is never enough ....
07-30-2021, 10:02 AM   #4
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Great post, informative for sure, not to mention the good photos.
Thanks for making the effort to do the write up and post.

07-30-2021, 10:03 AM   #5
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Thanks for this excellent article. I am not in the market for either lens right now but one can dream. You do good work!
07-30-2021, 03:01 PM   #6
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As a user of a DA 560 for the past year I have to take exception to the comments of the OP

The lens is unbalanced even with my K1 MKII to offset the forward weight of the lens, on the tripod mount. To balance it I bought a 168mm lens plate, and with this mounted on the lens, it allows the lens to be mounted so with my acra Swiss mount on my gimbal, I would have the lens totally loose on the gimbal and let go at any elevation of the lens and it would stay put. The center of gravity of the lens and K1 MKII is just behind the silver serial number band on the lens.

Also the length is not unwieldy it just takes getting used to, I shoot 100% hand held in Tav mode with 1/640th shutter and F8-f11 with a 6400 limit on ISO.

Last edited by Lowell Goudge; 09-19-2021 at 03:59 AM.
07-30-2021, 03:04 PM   #7
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Thank you for this excellent write up and the images you have shared. It looks like you had an amazing trip.

07-31-2021, 02:19 AM - 3 Likes   #8
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There should be a law against people having both of these but us mere mortals will just have to put up with the injustices of the universe. Great photos and obviously the lenses are in very competent hands.
07-31-2021, 03:47 PM   #9
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I never warmed to the idea of the DA 560, but a more conventional modern 600mm prime would get my attention.
08-08-2021, 08:59 AM - 2 Likes   #10
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Thanks for the kind words, everyone.

QuoteOriginally posted by Michail_P Quote
Taking handheld shots with these beasts must be tricky.... I love the bison photos. The focus of the zoom lens is obviously an issue, but I imagine a sturdy tripod should make things simpler. Of course you couldn't care less about the luggage , carrying both of them..
It's not easy, but I rest my left elbow on my knee while crouching and stabilize the lens by holding the tripod foot with the left hand. I have taken very sharp images with the 250-600 so I don't think focus is an issue. It just takes a little more work than with the 560.


K10D, F* 250-600 at 600mm and f/5.6


K10D, 600mm, and f/7.1 at Yellowstone National Park


K-1, 600mm, f/5.6 (I might have had my 1.5x teleconverter on for this one)


K-1, 460mm, f/5.6


Handheld K-1, 600mm, f/5.6


K10D, 600mm, f/5.6

I also need to take a few more comparison shots with both lenses and remove the B+W filter from the 560 first to see if this reduces the purple fringing.

QuoteOriginally posted by Lowell Goudge Quote
As a user of a DA 560 for the past year I have to take exception to the comments of the OP

The lens is unbalanced even with my K1 MKII to offset the forward weight of the lens, on the tripod mount. To balance it I bought a 168mm lens plate, and with this mounted on the lens, it allows the lens to be mounted so with my acra Swiss mount on my gimbal, I would have the lens totally loose on the gimbal and let go at any elevation of the lens and it would stay put. The center of gravity of the lens and K1 MKII is just behind the silver serial number band on the lens.

Also the length is not unwieldy it just takes getting used to, I shoot 100% hand held in Tav mode with 1/640th shutter and F8-f11 with a 6400 limit on ISO.
I have a grip on my K-1 ii so that also adds quite a bit of weight to the camera. I do what you do with my Arca-Swiss plate, but it sounds like we just move them in opposite directions. You're correct, I don't think it's the length. I think I'm just used to the 250-600 tripod foot which is shaped in the opposite direction of the 560's foot.

QuoteOriginally posted by Paul the Sunman Quote
I never warmed to the idea of the DA 560, but a more conventional modern 600mm prime would get my attention.
If you're not interested in the 560, I'm just curious what differences (besides a mere 40mm) would get your attention in a 600?
08-09-2021, 01:32 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by builttospill Quote
Thanks for the kind words, everyone.


It's not easy, but I rest my left elbow on my knee while crouching and stabilize the lens by holding the tripod foot with the left hand. I have taken very sharp images with the 250-600 so I don't think focus is an issue. It just takes a little more work than with the 560.


K10D, F* 250-600 at 600mm and f/5.6


K10D, 600mm, and f/7.1 at Yellowstone National Park


K-1, 600mm, f/5.6 (I might have had my 1.5x teleconverter on for this one)


K-1, 460mm, f/5.6


Handheld K-1, 600mm, f/5.6


K10D, 600mm, f/5.6

I also need to take a few more comparison shots with both lenses and remove the B+W filter from the 560 first to see if this reduces the purple fringing.


I have a grip on my K-1 ii so that also adds quite a bit of weight to the camera. I do what you do with my Arca-Swiss plate, but it sounds like we just move them in opposite directions. You're correct, I don't think it's the length. I think I'm just used to the 250-600 tripod foot which is shaped in the opposite direction of the 560's foot.


If you're not interested in the 560, I'm just curious what differences (besides a mere 40mm) would get your attention in a 600?
I also have the F*250-600, but have always used it on a tripod. Maybe I should try it handheld and see if I am able to get sharp photos.
08-16-2021, 01:38 PM - 1 Like   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Lowell Goudge Quote
As a user of a DA 560 for the past year I have to take exception to the comments of the OP

The lens is unbalanced even with my K1 MKII to offset the forward weight of the lens, on the tripod mount. To balance it I bought a 168mm lens plate, and with this mounted on the lens, it allows the lens to be mounted so with my acra Swiss mount on my gimbal, I would have the lens totally loose on the gimbal and let go at any elevation of the lens and it would stay put. The center of gravity of the lens and K1 MKII is just behind the silver serial number band on the lens.
...
QuoteOriginally posted by builttospill Quote
...
I have a grip on my K-1 ii so that also adds quite a bit of weight to the camera. I do what you do with my Arca-Swiss plate, but it sounds like we just move them in opposite directions. You're correct, I don't think it's the length. I think I'm just used to the 250-600 tripod foot which is shaped in the opposite direction of the 560's foot....
I just posted a thread on a gizmo I made out of manufactured parts which raises the camera/lens assembly as well as providing for lots of balancing space.
DIY load balancer / QR assembly / BG adapter - PentaxForums.com
08-16-2021, 02:37 PM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by dlhawes Quote
I just posted a thread on a gizmo I made out of manufactured parts which raises the camera/lens assembly as well as providing for lots of balancing space.
DIY load balancer / QR assembly / BG adapter - PentaxForums.com
That's a good idea to mount Arca-Swiss clamps to other plates. Thanks for sharing.
09-18-2021, 12:15 PM - 3 Likes   #14
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As much as I'd like to go back to Alaska to replicate the filter tests to see if there is less purple fringing with the new filter, I won't be able to do this any time soon. I purchased a new Pentax 112mm PF filter and removed the B+W F-Pro 112mm filter from the DA 560. I haven't had any purple fringing since switching filters, but again I haven't been able to take the exact same shots for a fair comparison. The photos I've taken have had high-contrast areas though. Both filters are high quality but the Pentax one was not quite double the price of the B+W filter.




In case you were wondering which lenses come with a PF filter when purchased new, the instruction manual indicates there are only two lenses which include the filter, the F* 600 f/4 and the A* 645 600 f/5.6. I also thought it was interesting the FA* 250-600 was not listed in the documentation under compatible lenses. I'd be interested in testing this filter with the FA* version to see if any vignetting occurs.


The filter is large at 112mm, but it is also thick. It protrudes deeply from the collapsed hood on the F* 250-600 and although it fit, it was a little too snug in the custom case I designed for the lens (shown below). I have now switched the filters so the B+W one is on the F* 250-600 and the Pentax one is on the DA 560.




These images were taken with the K-1 ii and the Tamron 90 Macro (272E version). The Tamron 55mm lens cap is placed next to the filter to give you an idea on the size and thickness.


From left to right, B+W F-Pro 112mm filter, Tamrom 55mm lens cap, Pentax 112mm PF filter.
09-18-2021, 06:27 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by builttospill Quote
The Tamron 55mm lens cap is placed next to the filter to give you an idea on the size and thickness.
Thank you for this; I don't have either the opportunity or the equipment to take photos in the same vein as yours, but I do have a Tamron 90 Macro, so your comparison photo is definitely worth a thousand words. Great wildlife photos, by the way; too good for the tools to get all the credit.
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