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View Poll Results: If you could have only 2 lenses in the 400mm+ range, which two would you buy?
Pentax DA* 300mm F/4 Pentax 1.7x AF Teleconverter 1313.98%
Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 with Pentax 1.7x AF Teleconverter 1010.75%
Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED 88.60%
Pentax-FA* 600mm F4 ED 2526.88%
Pentax-FA* 250-600mm F5.6 ED 1920.43%
Pentax-A* 400mm/2.8 ED 1819.35%
Pentax-A* 600mm/5.6 ED 77.53%
Pentax-A* 1200mm/8 ED 66.45%
Pentax-A 400mm/5.6 11.08%
Pentax-F* 600mm/4 ED 44.30%
Pentax-F* 250-600mm/5.6 ED 55.38%
Pentax-M 400mm/5.6 11.08%
Pentax-M 2000mm/13.5 Reflex   00%
Pentax-K 400mm/5.6 22.15%
Pentax-K 500mm/4.5 33.23%
Pentax-K 1000mm/8 11.08%
Pentax-K 1000mm/11 Reflex 11.08%
Pentax-K 2000mm/13.5 Reflex   00%
Pentax-K 400-600mm/8-12 Reflex   00%
Asahi Pentax Tele-Takumar 400mm f5.6   00%
Asahi Pentax Tele-Takumar 500mm f4.5 11.08%
Sigma 1000mm f/13.5 Mirror   00%
Sigma 600mm F8 Mirror   00%
Sigma 500mm f8 Mirror   00%
Sigma 400mm Mirror f5.6   00%
Sigma 400mm f5.6 AF Tele (Non APO)   00%
Sigma 400mm f5.6 APO Tele-Macro AF 55.38%
Sigma 500mm f/4.5 APO EX 77.53%
Sigma 135-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG APO   00%
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG APO OS HSM 11.08%
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM 44.30%
Sigma 200-500mm F2.8 APO EX DG (3 Wolf Moon Lens) 33.23%
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG HSM APO 11.08%
Sigma 170-500mm F5-6.3 DG APO   00%
Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 APO (Bigma) 11.08%
Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM APO (Bigma) 11.08%
Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM OS APO (Bigma) 88.60%
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF HSM APO with 1.4x Teleconverter 44.30%
Other Sigma Teleconverter Combination 22.15%
Tamron 500mm f/8 SP 55BB (mirror) 22.15%
Other Tamron Teleconverter Combination   00%
Rokinon / Kenko / Bower / Samyang / Vivitar 500mm F/6.3 DX Mirror   00%
Rokinon / Kenko / Bower / Samyang / Vivitar 500mm F/8 DX Mirror 11.08%
Rokinon 800mm f8.0 mirror   00%
Rokinon / Kenko / Bower / Samyang / Vivitar 650-1300mm F/8-16   00%
Tokina 400mm f/5.6 SD 11.08%
Tokina 400mm f5.6 ATX AF   00%
Tokina 500mm f8 Mirror   00%
Tokina AT-X 80-400mm F1: 4.5-5.6 44.30%
Vivitar 400mm f/5.6 11.08%
Vivitar Series 1 100-400mm f 4.5-6.7   00%
Vivitar Series 1 100-500mm F5.6-8   00%
Vivitar 120-600mm f/5.6-8 Zoom Lens   00%
Sakar 500mm F/8 Mirror M42   00%
Five Star 500mm 1:8 Mirror   00%
Leitz 560mm f/6.8 Telyt-R   00%
Soligor 500/8 Reflex   00%
HQ Optics MC 500mm F8   00%
Phoenix 100-500mm   00%
Other teleconverter combination 11.08%
Other 400mm or greater lens not listed above 33.23%
I'd only buy one lens 44.30%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 93. You may not vote on this poll

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04-05-2010, 07:41 PM   #1
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If you could have only 2 lenses in the 400mm+ range, which two would you buy?

You and your LBA have decided that you’re going to purchase two extreme telephoto lenses in the 400mm and greater range. You have concluded that you want to shoot the things that meet your own taste, but that you can’t get close enough to with your other lenses… wildlife, the moon, sports, Area 51, your neighbors, and who knows what else.

Assuming you are going to go out and buy these lenses (or maybe already own) two lenses that you will use for this purpose and you can obtain them at a reasonably fair market value. Which ones would you choose?

Which is to say, you didn't just win the lottery, which lenses would you buy? If you vote, your LBA will almost certainly lead you to buy these lenses!

It seems to me that the primary factors are quality, cost, weight/size, and versatility. Therefore keep in mind that you may have to take out a second mortgage for some of these lenses, and that whichever lenses you choose you’ll have to lug them around with you.

This poll contains all 400mm+ and above lenses that I could find during a couple hours of research. If I’ve missed your choice, vote other and I’d love to hear about it in the replies.

A few TC combinations that I've been eying are in the poll. If you would only buy one, there's a voting option for that at the bottom of the poll.


Last edited by Clinton; 04-05-2010 at 09:01 PM.
04-05-2010, 08:32 PM   #2
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Pentax-FA* 600mm F4 ED
Pentax-FA* 250-600mm F5.6 ED
04-05-2010, 08:37 PM   #3
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you forgot the sigma 300mm f2.8 + tc combo, that would be my pick
04-05-2010, 08:42 PM   #4
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The Tamron 300mm f2.8 SP (Models 60B & 360B) and matching tcs are missing as is the Tamron SP 400mm f4 65B.

04-05-2010, 08:47 PM   #5
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I should have said you can only vote on the A* 1200mm if you're smc ( https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/90949-super-mu...if-lens-2.html ) .
04-05-2010, 08:55 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by jezza323 Quote
you forgot the sigma 300mm f2.8 + tc combo, that would be my pick
Hence the Other Teleconverter combos vote. If I started adding all the 250 and 300mm lenses into this poll the list would have been impressive.
04-05-2010, 08:59 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by tangus Quote
Pentax-FA* 600mm F4 ED
Pentax-FA* 250-600mm F5.6 ED
You must not feed into my LBA like this. If I could find them, I couldn't afford them!

04-05-2010, 09:00 PM   #8
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I have three of those right now and I can't say I'm in love with the results of all of 'em yet.

Tokina ATX 80-400mm- It is a good stout lens, but I haven't had it long enough for it to jump out at me as a keeper. It does make a good fit lengthwise in my everyday kit for the long end though. DA12-24 for wide, FA50mm for norm/ short tele, 80-400mm for the reach. At 400mm, while physically hand holdable, I suggest something to rest against.

500mm f4.5- I've had some good test results with this last summer, but was working on the house too much to really get out and use it.

1000mm f8- This thing keeps me scratching my head. Between it being so dark to focus at f8 and the tedious technique to limit vibrations, my keeper rate has been quite low. About the only shot that is of high enough quality that I can think of is a boring test shot. I understand this lens has a lot of potential in it, I just haven't been able to release it yet. I have a scrap ME on its way to make a new focus screen (for $10, I figured its worth a shot before buying a KatzEye w/ Optibrite) As far as vibration, I'm on the fence about one of those long lens supports not knowing how well it'd play with a gimbal head. Otherwise, I see some beanbags in my future as well.

If I were to get more serious and want to upgrade from these, I'd be looking at the A* and F* for non-daily pack stuff. Then again, the glass I own is about the most $ I'm willing to throw at long glass now, so that's where my vote is.
04-05-2010, 09:18 PM   #9
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Definitely the FA* 250-600mm, then a toss up between a 300mm f/2.8, 400 f/2.8, 500 f/4... not that I could afford any of them right now I definitely see a long lens in my future though.
04-05-2010, 09:21 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by cgoudie Quote
Hence the Other Teleconverter combos vote. If I started adding all the 250 and 300mm lenses into this poll the list would have been impressive.
I understand that. However, you put some dubious choices in there and left out these.
04-06-2010, 06:29 AM   #11
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I have not voted yet, I believe I will at some point, but what I find interesting, considering the number of threads about it is that the Sigma APO 70-200F2.8 EX plus sigma 2X TC is not listed, since many of us forum members have that exact pairing.

I am also disappointed that the SMC-300F4, is not listed along with the 1.7x AF TC. It is one of the best 400+ options in terms of bang for your buck.

Overall, I own both these, plus 2 additional 400+ options, one being the Vivitar 400 F5.6 (multi coated version) and a celestron 1000mm F11 C90 scope.

If I were to recommend something totally without affordability considerations, it would be the FA 600F4 as one lens, and my Sigma 70-200F2.8 plus TC as the other. My logic would be that you want ideally one really fast long lens, (plus of course the 50 pound tripod to hold it) but you want something light (relitively) hand holdable, and with zoom, on a second body to take shots at things that come and go faster than you can set up the tripod. The sigma is great at that.

If affordability comes into it, then you are looking most probabily at a 300F2.8 (either sigma or pentax) with a TC

I think I'll vote now, on the ideal pair I discussed above.

Edit note:

can I change my vote. I did not read the disclaimer correctly about not winning the lottery. As a result, I think I should vote for a 300F2.8 plus either sigma 1.4x or 2x TC or SMC-F 1.7x AF TC depending on whether the lens is AF or MF. This can allow all pentax, sigma and tamron 300F2.8 lenses.

Last edited by Lowell Goudge; 04-06-2010 at 10:21 AM.
04-06-2010, 10:14 AM   #12
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Pentax-FA* 400mm F5.6 ED
Pentax-FA* 600mm F4 ED

04-06-2010, 11:10 AM   #13
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Hi cgoudie ,

I've thought long and hard about this over the years. Probably the ideal pair would be the FA*600/4 and FA*250-600, but you'd be talking mega bucks, and more importantly, mega weight (@ 13 lbs each). . . and then you'd have to add the expense and extra weight of a very sturdy support system (also not cheap).

When making my choices, I considered practicality for me (a smallish 60 yo with some significant medical problems). My choices ended up being an FA*300/4.5 with a Tamron F 1.4x AF TC or the Pentax F 1.7x Auto Focusing Adapter for handheld shooting at 420/6.3 or 510/7.7 respectively at a bit over 2 lbs, and an FA* 300/2.8 with a Sigma EX 1.4x APO AF TC, P F 1.7x AFA, or both stacked, giving me 420/4, 510/4.8, or 714/6.7 respectively at about 7 lbs. I also have a Sigma EX 100-300 APO that needs some repair and both the Tamron SP 300/2.8 (60B) Adaptall 2 and a Sigma EX 300/2.8 APO which also work pretty well with the TC combos. With the K-7's increased AF sensitivity, I can actually push each lens a bit further with an additional 1.4x TC and retain AF capability, but it's really stretching things, both in AF performance and optically.

For me, a 300/2.8 (6-7 lbs) is the most lens I'm able to carry to most of my usual birding spots, and is well within the limitations of my current support gear (Amvona ATA 104T CF or Uni Loc System 1700, Manfrotto 468MG with a Wimberley conversion clamp, Wimberley Sidekick).

IMO, the P F 1.7x AFA is the key element to my longer-than-300mm lens strategy (I currently have 3 of these). In addition to the added reach, it gives me easy focus limiting, very fast AF, and very good optical quality. There are some compromises, but mostly in the quality of bokeh and possible multiplication of existing CA/PF, but as a dedicated amateur, these are both easily acceptable for the weight and very substantial cost savings provided. I regularly carry two bodies and both lenses with the necessary TCs plus a tripod/gimbal. I could never even consider this with any combination of the longer primes mentioned.

Here are a few examples:

K100DS, FA*300/4.5+P F 1.7x AFA (510mm) lens wide open


K-7, FA*300/2.8 + P F 1.7x AFA (510mm) lens at @f5.9


K-7, FA*300/4.5 + P F 1.7x AFA (510mm) lens at @f6.4


K20, FA*300/2.8 + P F 1.7x AFA + Sigma 1.4x APO TC (714mm) lens at @f4.8


And just for grunts, K-7, FA*300/2.8 +P F 1.7x AFA, Tamron F 1.4x AF TC+ Sigma 1.4x APO TC (1000mm) lens at @f4.8 focused using AF only with a max Av of f9.3!


K-7, FA*300/4.5 + P F 1.7x AFA + Sigma 1.4x APO TC (714mm) lens at @f5.3 focused with AF only with a max Av of f10.7!!


These last two were heavily PP'd. The others have minimal cropping and sharpening to offset the softening from full resolution downsized to 800 on the long side

Scott
04-06-2010, 11:48 AM   #14
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snostorm

Great shots, and lens selection is similar in concept to mine, one hand held and one tripod based lens,

The only difference is hand held zoom over fixed, but I have both 300F4 with the 1.7x AFTC and 70-2--F2.8 with 2x TC so I am covered there, now just for something big and fast for me. You indicate you have the sigma 300F2.8 and adaptall 300F2.8.

what are your feelings between the 3 different 300's, and would you want to sell one of those that you don't use?

Of course what none of us mention is that regardless of lens, getting close is the real secret.
04-06-2010, 11:50 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by snostorm Quote
Hi cgoudie ,

I've thought long and hard about this over the years. Probably the ideal pair would be the FA*600/4 and FA*250-600, but you'd be talking mega bucks, and more importantly, mega weight (@ 13 lbs each). . . and then you'd have to add the expense and extra weight of a very sturdy support system (also not cheap).

. . .

Scott
Based on the Poll so far Pentax should make a batch of Pentax-FA* 600mm F4 ED and Pentax-FA* 250-600mm F5.6 ED. However, while I'd love to have the FA 600mm f4, coming up with the cash for it much less both would be next to impossible at the moment.
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