DA 55-300 PLM & 1.4 converter

dmjjr · 08-06-2021, 04:09 PM

Currently using the PLM on the K3ll with good results. Considering the the teleconveter. Any decrease in focus speed or quality?

**ramseybuckeye** · 08-06-2021, 05:45 PM

You want see any decrease in focus speed and I have not noticed any in quality. BUT, you lose a stop of light and that can really affect autofocus. I also have a DA* 300 which I prefer to use with the tc, but it is also bigger and heavier. So for certain activities where I want to haul less weight and bulk, like going to the beach or on a boat I use the PLM. But a boat is on water getting a lot of extra light reflecting off of the water, and really the beach is about the same. If you go into a heavily wooded area it is probably not going to get enough light to autofocus. In short, you need more light for the combination to function right than you do the lens alone.

dmjjr · 08-06-2021, 05:50 PM

Thanks for the reply-the auto focus is really exceptional using the PLM-using in some wooded areas-guess it’s not the “silver billet’’. Thanks again

**Roam Redway** · 08-06-2021, 06:15 PM

I've had exactly the same question. Thanks to both the OP and the OR.

swanlefitte · 08-06-2021, 07:14 PM

At f8 which is up to 270mmx1.4 is the same. Longer than 270mm, you get to f9.5 so the decrease in light will matter.

swanlefitte · 08-06-2021, 07:33 PM

here are a couple from this week. The first is 364mm and it had trouble with focus but came out pretty sharp even at 180 shutter. The second was at 420mm 1/500 and had no trouble with focus in the good light but not nearly as sharp. There is other stuff like iso and slight crop but this is consisent with my experience.
I think even w/o the converter if you shot at 270 and cropped it would be sharper than at 300.

Spock · 08-06-2021, 07:40 PM

In my experience with the teleconverter, it works fine with almost any lens - but comparing pics taken with and without, the cropped image without the converter is generally better.

I actually set up my camera on a tripod and shot pics of a test target and pixel-peeped to arrive at that conclusion.

In my opinion, if you need more reach, it's better to save for a longer or better lens.

**UncleVanya** · 08-07-2021, 05:55 AM

Originally posted by Spock

In my experience with the teleconverter, it works fine with almost any lens - but comparing pics taken with and without, the cropped image without the converter is generally better.

I actually set up my camera on a tripod and shot pics of a test target and pixel-peeped to arrive at that conclusion.

In my opinion, if you need more reach, it's better to save for a longer or better lens.

The real question is how does the original version of the original photo without the 1.4x cropped to match the framing of the version with the 1.4x compare to the version created using the 1.4x without cropping?

**gaweidert** · 08-07-2021, 06:11 AM - **1 Like**

A set of extension tubes that worked with the modern lenses would be nice too. Either that or return to putting an aperture ring to all their lenses. How hard can it be to make a set of extension tubes?

Spock · 08-07-2021, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

The real question is how does the original version of the original photo without the 1.4x cropped to match the framing of the version with the 1.4x compare to the version created using the 1.4x without cropping?

I'm not sure I understand your question but with the converter it looks like a 'longer' lens was used than in the photo taken without the converter.

**UncleVanya** · 08-07-2021, 09:23 PM

Originally posted by Spock

I'm not sure I understand your question but with the converter it looks like a 'longer' lens was used than in the photo taken without the converter.

Lol. No I was commenting about the quality. Compare cropping an image to using the 1.4x and see which looks better that is the best measure of the usefulness of the device.

**acoufap** · 08-07-2021, 11:59 PM

Originally posted by gaweidert

A set of extension tubes that worked with the modern lenses would be nice too. Either that or return to putting an aperture ring to all their lenses. How hard can it be to make a set of extension tubes?

… and bellows with electronic contacts to control aperture … you get solutions from Novoflex for the big brands but not for Pentax K-Mount - like in many other cases. Cooperation with different makers of specialized tools to put such tools to the market via kickstarter would help I guess.

Spock · 08-08-2021, 12:01 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Lol. No I was commenting about the quality. Compare cropping an image to using the 1.4x and see which looks better that is the best measure of the usefulness of the device.

Using the HD DA1.4 converter with a F*300 lens, my conclusion was I had better image quality without the converter and cropping to the same field of view. Consequently I sold my converter.

**acoufap** · 08-08-2021, 12:13 AM

Of course you can crop. If the resulting image is better or worse for me is only one criterium to decide which way to go.

The reason is that with an magnified image I better see the details in the viewfinder. So composition in the field may be supported better. I like using my DA TC1.4x and hope we‘ll get a DFA TC 1.4x in the future.

08-06-2021, 04:09 PM	#1
dmjjr Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 230	DA 55-300 PLM & 1.4 converter Currently using the PLM on the K3ll with good results. Considering the the teleconveter. Any decrease in focus speed or quality?

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08-06-2021, 05:45 PM	#2
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,291	You want see any decrease in focus speed and I have not noticed any in quality. BUT, you lose a stop of light and that can really affect autofocus. I also have a DA* 300 which I prefer to use with the tc, but it is also bigger and heavier. So for certain activities where I want to haul less weight and bulk, like going to the beach or on a boat I use the PLM. But a boat is on water getting a lot of extra light reflecting off of the water, and really the beach is about the same. If you go into a heavily wooded area it is probably not going to get enough light to autofocus. In short, you need more light for the combination to function right than you do the lens alone.

08-06-2021, 05:50 PM	#3
dmjjr Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 230 Original Poster	Thanks for the reply-the auto focus is really exceptional using the PLM-using in some wooded areas-guess it’s not the “silver billet’’. Thanks again

08-06-2021, 06:15 PM	#4
Roam Redway Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: California's Gold Country Posts: 98	I've had exactly the same question. Thanks to both the OP and the OR.

08-06-2021, 07:14 PM	#5
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	At f8 which is up to 270mmx1.4 is the same. Longer than 270mm, you get to f9.5 so the decrease in light will matter.

08-06-2021, 07:33 PM	#6
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	here are a couple from this week. The first is 364mm and it had trouble with focus but came out pretty sharp even at 180 shutter. The second was at 420mm 1/500 and had no trouble with focus in the good light but not nearly as sharp. There is other stuff like iso and slight crop but this is consisent with my experience. I think even w/o the converter if you shot at 270 and cropped it would be sharper than at 300.

08-06-2021, 07:40 PM	#7
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 674	In my experience with the teleconverter, it works fine with almost any lens - but comparing pics taken with and without, the cropped image without the converter is generally better. I actually set up my camera on a tripod and shot pics of a test target and pixel-peeped to arrive at that conclusion. In my opinion, if you need more reach, it's better to save for a longer or better lens.

08-07-2021, 05:55 AM	#8
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	Originally posted by Spock In my experience with the teleconverter, it works fine with almost any lens - but comparing pics taken with and without, the cropped image without the converter is generally better. I actually set up my camera on a tripod and shot pics of a test target and pixel-peeped to arrive at that conclusion. In my opinion, if you need more reach, it's better to save for a longer or better lens. The real question is how does the original version of the original photo without the 1.4x cropped to match the framing of the version with the 1.4x compare to the version created using the 1.4x without cropping?

08-07-2021, 06:11 AM - 1 Like	#9
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,325	A set of extension tubes that worked with the modern lenses would be nice too. Either that or return to putting an aperture ring to all their lenses. How hard can it be to make a set of extension tubes?

08-07-2021, 07:21 PM	#10
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Originally posted by UncleVanya The real question is how does the original version of the original photo without the 1.4x cropped to match the framing of the version with the 1.4x compare to the version created using the 1.4x without cropping? I'm not sure I understand your question but with the converter it looks like a 'longer' lens was used than in the photo taken without the converter.

08-07-2021, 09:23 PM	#11
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	Originally posted by Spock I'm not sure I understand your question but with the converter it looks like a 'longer' lens was used than in the photo taken without the converter. Lol. No I was commenting about the quality. Compare cropping an image to using the 1.4x and see which looks better that is the best measure of the usefulness of the device.

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08-07-2021, 11:59 PM	#12
acoufap Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Munich, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,187	Originally posted by gaweidert A set of extension tubes that worked with the modern lenses would be nice too. Either that or return to putting an aperture ring to all their lenses. How hard can it be to make a set of extension tubes? … and bellows with electronic contacts to control aperture … you get solutions from Novoflex for the big brands but not for Pentax K-Mount - like in many other cases. Cooperation with different makers of specialized tools to put such tools to the market via kickstarter would help I guess.

08-08-2021, 12:01 AM	#13
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Originally posted by UncleVanya Lol. No I was commenting about the quality. Compare cropping an image to using the 1.4x and see which looks better that is the best measure of the usefulness of the device. Using the HD DA1.4 converter with a F*300 lens, my conclusion was I had better image quality without the converter and cropping to the same field of view. Consequently I sold my converter.

08-08-2021, 12:13 AM	#14
acoufap Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Munich, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,187	Of course you can crop. If the resulting image is better or worse for me is only one criterium to decide which way to go. The reason is that with an magnified image I better see the details in the viewfinder. So composition in the field may be supported better. I like using my DA TC1.4x and hope we‘ll get a DFA TC 1.4x in the future.