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chrism_scotland · 11-23-2009, 09:16 AM

Still considering a swap to Pentax but I was wondering if there is a fairly cheap, decent telephoto lens available, something like a Sigma 70-300 APO??

I've always fancied getting some shots of airliners landing / taking off and just something fairly cheap would do me.

HermanLee · 11-23-2009, 10:38 AM

Yes, of course. There are plenty of those.
One I can remember and have used it personally is Tamron 70-300.
One of the best cheap lens that I can recommend. The macro function is amazing for such a cheap lens.
I am not a telephoto guy so I sold that one. But if you into telephoto, this one is one of the best value. You might want to check Pentax DA 55-300mm. It get a good review overall from the users.
I hardly find anybody complaining with this DA 55-300mm.

Dangermouse · 11-23-2009, 10:57 AM

I have the Pentax-F 100-300mm. It struggles a bit in low light but it'd be great for photographing aircraft.

Actually, aircraft and ship photography were my main reasons for buying it, although I haven't used it for either yet!

Pentaxor · 11-23-2009, 11:53 AM

fairly cheap and very good lens? a DA55-300 is an excellent choice. I already shot some seaplanes with it and had no problems or any other complaints about it. I had used it in night/lowlight photography like concerts, etc... btw, it only costs at around 250-300 in the marketplace.

lesmore49 · 11-23-2009, 11:58 AM

I have the Pentax 55-300 ...use on my K10D and KM...very happy with the clarity and performance...PP gives it very good ratings.

MattGunn · 11-23-2009, 01:05 PM

I second the Tamron 70-300 if your budget is limited. For the price the performance is remarkable.
If you can cope with manual focus it may be worth having a look in a junk shop on the Holyrood park side of the street somewhere between Nicolson St and Newington Rd - I got a super takumar 300mm f/4 there for a good price. Whatever you get you should be able to get some good shots of the Edinburgh skyline from Arthurs Seat with a telephoto.

jogiba · 11-23-2009, 01:54 PM

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kvKntLMbIw[/yt]
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtiUbfM36DQ[/yt]
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hImjTNUrx1g&feature=related[/yt]

newarts · 11-23-2009, 03:23 PM

Comparing the photozone.de reviews of the pentax 55-300mm and tamron 70-300mm I'd say the Tamron looks pretty darned good. Wide open at 300mm it tests slightly better for resolution and color fringing than the pentax and is a tiny bit faster at the same size & weight & less than half the price.

I have the pentax 55-300 and am happy with it; I'd probably be happy with the tamron too.

Dave in Iowa

Pentaxor · 11-23-2009, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by newarts

Comparing the photozone.de reviews of the pentax 55-300mm and tamron 70-300mm I'd say the Tamron looks pretty darned good. Wide open at 300mm it tests slightly better for resolution and color fringing than the pentax and is a tiny bit faster at the same size & weight & less than half the price.

I have the pentax 55-300 and am happy with it; I'd probably be happy with the tamron too.

Dave in Iowa

the photozone 55-300 MTF is based on the copy that was lent for testing. as was disclosed by photozone, the other 55-300 copies may display a better result than the one they had, hence better MTF count. this was indicated in the optical quality verdict.

newarts · 11-23-2009, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

the photozone 55-300 MTF is based on the copy that was lent for testing. as was disclosed by photozone, the other 55-300 copies may display a better result than the one they had, hence better MTF count. this was indicated in the optical quality verdict.

That's correct, but except for price on one side and minimum focal length it looks like a toss-up to me.

Pentaxor · 11-23-2009, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by newarts

That's correct, but except for price on one side and minimum focal length it looks like a toss-up to me.

pros and cons. also the 70-300 has a much closer focusing distance than the 55-300, but the latter has a quick-shift.

flyer · 11-23-2009, 04:58 PM

The Sigma 70-300 is cheap, and does the job, too. I can't complain about mine.

11-23-2009, 09:16 AM	#1
chrism_scotland Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 76	Zoom Lens Still considering a swap to Pentax but I was wondering if there is a fairly cheap, decent telephoto lens available, something like a Sigma 70-300 APO?? I've always fancied getting some shots of airliners landing / taking off and just something fairly cheap would do me.

11-23-2009, 01:54 PM	#7
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	28-300mm Tamron @300mm [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kvKntLMbIw[/yt] [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtiUbfM36DQ[/yt] [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hImjTNUrx1g&feature=related[/yt]

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11-23-2009, 10:38 AM	#2
HermanLee Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern California, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 729	Yes, of course. There are plenty of those. One I can remember and have used it personally is Tamron 70-300. One of the best cheap lens that I can recommend. The macro function is amazing for such a cheap lens. I am not a telephoto guy so I sold that one. But if you into telephoto, this one is one of the best value. You might want to check Pentax DA 55-300mm. It get a good review overall from the users. I hardly find anybody complaining with this DA 55-300mm.

11-23-2009, 10:57 AM	#3
Dangermouse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 283	I have the Pentax-F 100-300mm. It struggles a bit in low light but it'd be great for photographing aircraft. Actually, aircraft and ship photography were my main reasons for buying it, although I haven't used it for either yet!

11-23-2009, 11:53 AM	#4
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	fairly cheap and very good lens? a DA55-300 is an excellent choice. I already shot some seaplanes with it and had no problems or any other complaints about it. I had used it in night/lowlight photography like concerts, etc... btw, it only costs at around 250-300 in the marketplace.

11-23-2009, 11:58 AM	#5
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,350	I have the Pentax 55-300 ...use on my K10D and KM...very happy with the clarity and performance...PP gives it very good ratings.

11-23-2009, 01:05 PM	#6
MattGunn Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wales Photos: Gallery Posts: 347	I second the Tamron 70-300 if your budget is limited. For the price the performance is remarkable. If you can cope with manual focus it may be worth having a look in a junk shop on the Holyrood park side of the street somewhere between Nicolson St and Newington Rd - I got a super takumar 300mm f/4 there for a good price. Whatever you get you should be able to get some good shots of the Edinburgh skyline from Arthurs Seat with a telephoto.

11-23-2009, 03:23 PM	#8
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Comparing the photozone.de reviews of the pentax 55-300mm and tamron 70-300mm I'd say the Tamron looks pretty darned good. Wide open at 300mm it tests slightly better for resolution and color fringing than the pentax and is a tiny bit faster at the same size & weight & less than half the price. I have the pentax 55-300 and am happy with it; I'd probably be happy with the tamron too. Dave in Iowa

11-23-2009, 03:54 PM	#9
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by newarts Comparing the photozone.de reviews of the pentax 55-300mm and tamron 70-300mm I'd say the Tamron looks pretty darned good. Wide open at 300mm it tests slightly better for resolution and color fringing than the pentax and is a tiny bit faster at the same size & weight & less than half the price. I have the pentax 55-300 and am happy with it; I'd probably be happy with the tamron too. Dave in Iowa the photozone 55-300 MTF is based on the copy that was lent for testing. as was disclosed by photozone, the other 55-300 copies may display a better result than the one they had, hence better MTF count. this was indicated in the optical quality verdict.

11-23-2009, 04:10 PM	#10
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Originally posted by Pentaxor the photozone 55-300 MTF is based on the copy that was lent for testing. as was disclosed by photozone, the other 55-300 copies may display a better result than the one they had, hence better MTF count. this was indicated in the optical quality verdict. That's correct, but except for price on one side and minimum focal length it looks like a toss-up to me.

11-23-2009, 04:30 PM	#11
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by newarts That's correct, but except for price on one side and minimum focal length it looks like a toss-up to me. pros and cons. also the 70-300 has a much closer focusing distance than the 55-300, but the latter has a quick-shift.

11-23-2009, 04:58 PM	#12
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	The Sigma 70-300 is cheap, and does the job, too. I can't complain about mine.

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