A Comparison of 300mm capable lenses on the K-1

**GUB** · 08-27-2021, 11:05 PM - **5 Likes**

Every now I then I do a test to remind myself why I tend to collect old primes and not zooms.
These are all wide open. And remember the primes are up to a stop faster than the zooms.
My poor old DAL 55-300 is such a dog! I am not pretending it is standard for that lens.
These Takumar lens caps are set up about 30 metres from the camera. (I tend to lay them out like that - 100 times the focal length.)
The outer 2 are about 600mm forward and back of the central one. This helps to gauge whether I have stuffed up focusing!.

Attached Images

pid · 08-28-2021, 01:33 AM

the old A or M *300/4 eat them all!

**GUB** · 08-28-2021, 01:45 AM

Originally posted by pid

the old A or M *300/4 eat them all!

Have you got one to put up against them? I would love to see some later ones compared. Old Takumar lens cap at 30 metres. Lens wide open.

**marcusBMG** · 08-28-2021, 05:27 AM

Its a pity the light isn't better. The exposure discrepancy between the white paper and the dull everything else has exacerbated the haloing.

The tair matches its rep - one of the best vintage 300's, the soligor/hanimex (same lens) is better than expected for me I was not impressed by the essentially the same tokina made vivitar 300-5.5 that passed through my hands, the tokina AF zoom is similar to cosina and sigma x-300mm zooms I have tried ie just not very good at the long end, the tokina (= vivitar etc) 100-300mm f5 is better at infinity/distant focus at 300mm for sure, but result is indicative it is softish and fringy at f5, I am not convinced by the DAL 55-300mm result this lens is normally better than that, may be OOF, try again using MF/live view.

Last edited by marcusBMG; 08-28-2021 at 05:34 AM.

**sergysergy** · 08-28-2021, 05:45 AM

I feel there is something wrong with the DAL 55-300 lens/test. Very nice results from the Takumars!

normhead · 08-28-2021, 05:56 AM

I have no clue what this means. Did you use live view and focus assist, or did you eye ball it?

**DonV** · 08-28-2021, 10:19 AM

"The outer 2 are about 600mm forward and back of the central one"

This cannot be correct-600mm is 2 feet !
If you mean 60mm that is still over 2", and at 30m depht of field is less than that for sure.

What is the actual distance?

What is the point of focus, i.e. which lens ? Center one ?

**GUB** · 08-28-2021, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by normhead

I have no clue what this means. Did you use live view and focus assist, or did you eye ball it?

Tripod, electronic shutter, 12 sec delay. Focus Liveview image magnified with focus peaking on. Two focusing attempts - choose the best.

**GUB** · 08-28-2021, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by DonV

This cannot be correct-600mm is 2 feet !
If you mean 60mm that is still over 2", and at 30m depht of field is less than that for sure.

As per the text.

**GUB** · 08-28-2021, 01:54 PM

Originally posted by marcusBMG

The exposure discrepancy between the white paper and the dull everything else has exacerbated the haloing.

Why I like that type of lighting.

**GUB** · 08-28-2021, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by marcusBMG

I am not convinced by the DAL 55-300mm result this lens is normally better than that, may be OOF, try again using MF/live view.

Nope - as per the text mine is a dog.

normhead · 08-28-2021, 02:11 PM

It's hard to accept it could be that bad. But it sounds like you've done enough to get better results it it were possible. The only different between that and what I do is I usually do 5 shots and take the best, and if I get results like that, I take 5 more. That's one of the unknown factors to me. Sometimes a lens gets rated best in class based on one shot, when only one of the 5 shots was that good. Other times I have 4 great shots and one bad. Its hard to quantify that, but my guess is you might have better results with more image.... but of course, it's impossible to know that.

**GUB** · 08-28-2021, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by normhead

It's hard to accept it could be that bad. But it sounds like you've done enough to get better results it it were possible. The only different between that and what I do is I usually do 5 shots and take the best, and if I get results like that, I take 5 more. That's one of the unknown factors to me. Sometimes a lens gets rated best in class based on one shot, when only one of the 5 shots was that good. Other times I have 4 great shots and one bad. Its hard to quantify that, but my guess is you might have better results with more image.... but of course, it's impossible to know that.

Remember these lenses are wide open Norm.
I apply the 100x the focal length (300mm lens = 30 metres) on all focal lengths I do a comparison on.
On all lenses it becomes a challenge to define the triangle in the "A" of "Pentax".

normhead · 08-28-2021, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by GUB

Remember these lenses are wide open Norm.
I apply the 100x the focal length (300mm lens = 30 metres) on all focal lengths I do a comparison on.
On all lenses it becomes a challenge to define the triangle in the "A" of "Pentax".

In all tests it's difficult to do something, someone, somewhere doesn't think "you could have done better."

Thanks for you dedication and patience. These things are serious work.

**GUB** · 08-28-2021, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by normhead

In all tests it's difficult to do something, someone, somewhere doesn't think "you could have done better."

Thanks for you dedication and patience. These things are serious work.

Yes and I have chosen the lenscaps so people elsewhere can do a comparison - but no one volunteers!
Obviously focus error is the biggest variability I am up against. I would have rated camera shake next but the Tair had the worst mounting. It has a large threaded hole and the only adapter I had meant it was mounted on a stalk. Yet it is pretty well the best especially considering the back lenscap suggests it is slightly back focused.

08-27-2021, 11:05 PM - 5 Likes	#1
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760	A Comparison of 300mm capable lenses on the K-1 Every now I then I do a test to remind myself why I tend to collect old primes and not zooms. These are all wide open. And remember the primes are up to a stop faster than the zooms. My poor old DAL 55-300 is such a dog! I am not pretending it is standard for that lens. These Takumar lens caps are set up about 30 metres from the camera. (I tend to lay them out like that - 100 times the focal length.) The outer 2 are about 600mm forward and back of the central one. This helps to gauge whether I have stuffed up focusing!. Attached Images

08-28-2021, 01:52 PM	#9
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by DonV This cannot be correct-600mm is 2 feet ! If you mean 60mm that is still over 2", and at 30m depht of field is less than that for sure. As per the text. Attached Images

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08-28-2021, 01:33 AM	#2
pid Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 567	the old A or M *300/4 eat them all!

08-28-2021, 01:45 AM	#3
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by pid the old A or M *300/4 eat them all! Have you got one to put up against them? I would love to see some later ones compared. Old Takumar lens cap at 30 metres. Lens wide open.

08-28-2021, 05:27 AM	#4
marcusBMG Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: North Wales Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,870	Its a pity the light isn't better. The exposure discrepancy between the white paper and the dull everything else has exacerbated the haloing. The tair matches its rep - one of the best vintage 300's, the soligor/hanimex (same lens) is better than expected for me I was not impressed by the essentially the same tokina made vivitar 300-5.5 that passed through my hands, the tokina AF zoom is similar to cosina and sigma x-300mm zooms I have tried ie just not very good at the long end, the tokina (= vivitar etc) 100-300mm f5 is better at infinity/distant focus at 300mm for sure, but result is indicative it is softish and fringy at f5, I am not convinced by the DAL 55-300mm result this lens is normally better than that, may be OOF, try again using MF/live view. Last edited by marcusBMG; 08-28-2021 at 05:34 AM.

08-28-2021, 05:45 AM	#5
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	I feel there is something wrong with the DAL 55-300 lens/test. Very nice results from the Takumars!

08-28-2021, 05:56 AM	#6
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	I have no clue what this means. Did you use live view and focus assist, or did you eye ball it?

08-28-2021, 10:19 AM	#7
DonV Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Near Charlotte NC Photos: Albums Posts: 695	"The outer 2 are about 600mm forward and back of the central one" This cannot be correct-600mm is 2 feet ! If you mean 60mm that is still over 2", and at 30m depht of field is less than that for sure. What is the actual distance? What is the point of focus, i.e. which lens ? Center one ?

08-28-2021, 01:51 PM	#8
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by normhead I have no clue what this means. Did you use live view and focus assist, or did you eye ball it? Tripod, electronic shutter, 12 sec delay. Focus Liveview image magnified with focus peaking on. Two focusing attempts - choose the best.

08-28-2021, 01:54 PM	#10
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by marcusBMG The exposure discrepancy between the white paper and the dull everything else has exacerbated the haloing. Why I like that type of lighting.

08-28-2021, 01:55 PM	#11
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by marcusBMG I am not convinced by the DAL 55-300mm result this lens is normally better than that, may be OOF, try again using MF/live view. Nope - as per the text mine is a dog.

08-28-2021, 02:11 PM	#12
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	It's hard to accept it could be that bad. But it sounds like you've done enough to get better results it it were possible. The only different between that and what I do is I usually do 5 shots and take the best, and if I get results like that, I take 5 more. That's one of the unknown factors to me. Sometimes a lens gets rated best in class based on one shot, when only one of the 5 shots was that good. Other times I have 4 great shots and one bad. Its hard to quantify that, but my guess is you might have better results with more image.... but of course, it's impossible to know that.

08-28-2021, 02:19 PM	#13
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by normhead It's hard to accept it could be that bad. But it sounds like you've done enough to get better results it it were possible. The only different between that and what I do is I usually do 5 shots and take the best, and if I get results like that, I take 5 more. That's one of the unknown factors to me. Sometimes a lens gets rated best in class based on one shot, when only one of the 5 shots was that good. Other times I have 4 great shots and one bad. Its hard to quantify that, but my guess is you might have better results with more image.... but of course, it's impossible to know that. Remember these lenses are wide open Norm. I apply the 100x the focal length (300mm lens = 30 metres) on all focal lengths I do a comparison on. On all lenses it becomes a challenge to define the triangle in the "A" of "Pentax".

08-28-2021, 02:42 PM	#14
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by GUB Remember these lenses are wide open Norm. I apply the 100x the focal length (300mm lens = 30 metres) on all focal lengths I do a comparison on. On all lenses it becomes a challenge to define the triangle in the "A" of "Pentax". In all tests it's difficult to do something, someone, somewhere doesn't think "you could have done better." Thanks for you dedication and patience. These things are serious work.

08-28-2021, 02:55 PM	#15
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760 Original Poster	Originally posted by normhead In all tests it's difficult to do something, someone, somewhere doesn't think "you could have done better." Thanks for you dedication and patience. These things are serious work. Yes and I have chosen the lenscaps so people elsewhere can do a comparison - but no one volunteers! Obviously focus error is the biggest variability I am up against. I would have rated camera shake next but the Tair had the worst mounting. It has a large threaded hole and the only adapter I had meant it was mounted on a stalk. Yet it is pretty well the best especially considering the back lenscap suggests it is slightly back focused.