[KX5]

I just bought my K5 a few weeks ago and i wonder what lens i can buy for animal shots.
I had a DA 55-300mm but i was not happy with it.
Checking on the net i dont find any good lens under 1000€.
Yes i see the great 300mm F4 but i regret to not find a Tamron 70-300 VC unavailable for Pentax!
So what choice?

[hcc]

Another alternative is the FA*300mm f4.5. It can be found on the second market. The lens is very well regarded by PF members and the IQ is superb In my case I chose the FA*300m over the DA*300mm because of the lighter weight and smaller size. I like to bushwalk and I prefer the smaller FA*300mm for convenience.

Food for thoughts...

[seachunk2]

What was it about the 55-300 that you were not satisfied with?

[KX5]

@hcc: hard to find under 1000€ too but it' s a great value sure!
@searchunk2: maybe a bad copy. i posted my review on the 55-300 thread.
This is a Pentax issue. Between the cheap lens & the expert lens, there is a great hole.
This lack of choice in the Pentax park lens makes me feel disappointed.

[RobA_Oz]

Another alternative is the FA*300mm f4.5. It can be found on the second market. The lens is very well regarded by PF members and the IQ is superb In my case I chose the FA*300m over the DA*300mm because of the lighter weight and smaller size. I like to bushwalk and I prefer the smaller FA*300mm for convenience.

Food for thoughts...

There is also the even lighter F*300 which has two other advantages over the FA*300 - the lens hood is built-in, and it has a removable tripod mount. The main disadvantage is that it is much more scarce than its younger sibling, although it commands a similar price to it.

However, if you are prepared to wait, as I did, they do appear from time to time.

[VoiceOfReason]

I just bought my K5 a few weeks ago and i wonder what lens i can buy for animal shots.
I had a DA 55-300mm but i was not happy with it.
Checking on the net i dont find any good lens under 1000€.
Yes i see the great 300mm F4 but i regret to not find a Tamron 70-300 VC unavailable for Pentax!
So what choice?

I would simply get a normal Tamron or Sigma 70-300 and use the in camera shake reduction. I've taken plenty of handheld stuff at 300 mm and not really had any problems. Raise the ISO some, set it at f/6.7 or so, and raise the shutter speed.

[KX5]

The Tamron 70-300 Di is not a bad lens like the Sigma 70-300 DL or even the Pentax 55-300mm but they are slow and hunting in low light.
There is no alternative for my K5 in the midrange area. We need to jump to the next (and expensive) level of the BIGMA or the Pentax fix lens.

[hcc]

@hcc: hard to find under 1000€ too but it' s a great value sure!.

Try kx5, but you may place a Wanted add on the PF marketplace.

I just missed a FA*300mm last year on the PF marketplace, and I placed afterwards a Wanted message. I had two offers and I bought one from a PF member. I am most happy with the deal and the dealings with the PF member.

Hope that the comment may help.

[KX5]

@hcc: thx for the link

[VoiceOfReason]

If it were me I'd DEFINITELY go for the Bigma if it's the same price range.

[luftfluss]

I just bought my K5 a few weeks ago and i wonder what lens i can buy for animal shots.
I had a DA 55-300mm but i was not happy with it.
Checking on the net i dont find any good lens under 1000€.
Yes i see the great 300mm F4 but i regret to not find a Tamron 70-300 VC unavailable for Pentax!
So what choice?

You must have gotten a bad copy of the 55-300 then, because it's pretty good. Image quality is better than the Tamron 70-300 & Sigma 70-300. If you look at the Pentax lens roadmap, you'll see that next year there is a zoom lens somewhere in the 100-400mm range to be introduced.

[KX5]

You must have gotten a bad copy of the 55-300 then, because it's pretty good. Image quality is better than the Tamron 70-300 & Sigma 70-300. If you look at the Pentax lens roadmap, you'll see that next year there is a zoom lens somewhere in the 100-400mm range to be introduced.

Maybe but the AF was really noisy and slow. So i dont think it's different with another copy.
It's a great news if Pentax propose this lens. Sure Im not the only one to miss it!

[luftfluss]

Maybe but the AF was really noisy and slow. So i dont think it's different with another copy.
It's a great news if Pentax propose this lens. Sure Im not the only one to miss it!

Yes, the AF is very noisy & slow. With practice, though, it is still adequate to get good wildlife pics!

Here's a link to the lens roadmap: Pentax Lens Roadmaps - 645, Q, K 2012 - Pentax Camera News & Rumors - PentaxForums.com

[KX5]

Another choice could work: Pentax DA 200mm F2.8.
Very nice for many purposes: animals close-up, macro and sport events.
And with a Kenko teleconverter i can reach the 300mm focal range.
what do you think?

[SKwan]

DA 55-300 is a good lens. The only issue is noisy which can be solved via the quick-shift! Below shows you some photos taken by DA 55-300.
SKwan's Album: DA 55-300 F4-5.8 - PentaxForums.com

I think if you, KX5, need a long-tele zoom, you may consider Sigma 50-500 F4.5-6.3 OS HSM!