Nature First shots with my new D FA 150-450

First shots with my new D FA 150-450 · **4 Likes**

Hi there folks. I am newbie to the forum but a Pentaxian for over 3 decades. Got my D FA 150-450 mine 4 days ago. It replaces a 13 year old Sigma 150-500mm, F5-6.3. I'm very much a birding and nature enthusiast so it fills a long held desire for some quality optics. This is from my first workout for the lens. Taken at the local Wetlands park in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Pleased with the lens, to say the least.

Cheers
Andrew

normhead · 03-07-2016, 09:27 AM - **1 Like**

Nice...

rawr · 03-07-2016, 09:36 AM - **1 Like**

Good images.
What were your first impressions of shooting with the lens, particularly compared to your Sigma?

Andy Fern · 03-07-2016, 08:01 PM

Well, I expected the 150-450 to completely blow away the old Sigma and it did. The Sigma has been really showing its age which dates back to the time I was shooting film. On a 20MP sensor like the KS2, it just isnt getting the most of things. The flare, contrast, colour saturation and sharpness are streets behind. The Sigma was after all a consumer grade lens and the original price, at about a third of this Pentax, reflects that . The Pentax 150-450, in comparison, is from another planet. What I didn't count on was it also leaving the 55-300 - a lens that I am plenty fond of, that far in the shades too. It really is stellar and is probably the sharpest lens I have ever used.
But it is quite heavy, all 5 pounds of it. Though I recall feeling that way about the Sigma when I first got it. The Pentax is probably about a pound and a third heavier and the barrel is somewhat fatter.
The autofocus, coupled to the KS2 rocks for me. Unless you are shifting your focus point from 2m to near infinity, it was plenty quick. Small changes in focusing distances are almost indetectable and very silent.
My arm did tire after about 35 minutes of handholding. But thats a matter of practice and getting used to. Remember feeling that way when I first got the Sigma so many years ago.

**eaglem** · 03-07-2016, 10:06 PM - **1 Like**

They've come up nicely detailed with good lighting.

Unregistered User 8 · 03-08-2016, 03:10 AM - **1 Like**

Hi Andrew. Fantastic series of photographs. I can foresee many photographs being posted in the future with you new " baby." Very well taken.

slowpez · 03-08-2016, 07:12 AM - **1 Like**

Congrats on the new lens and welcome to the forums. Looking forward to seeing more of your wildlife shots.

**BigMackCam** · 03-08-2016, 07:17 AM - **1 Like**

Great images. I particularly like #2 of the pigeons!

Andy Fern
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03-07-2016, 09:27 AM - 1 Like	#2
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Nice...

03-07-2016, 09:36 AM - 1 Like	#3
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Good images. What were your first impressions of shooting with the lens, particularly compared to your Sigma?

03-07-2016, 08:01 PM	#4
Andy Fern Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kuala Lumpur Photos: Gallery Posts: 73 Original Poster	Well, I expected the 150-450 to completely blow away the old Sigma and it did. The Sigma has been really showing its age which dates back to the time I was shooting film. On a 20MP sensor like the KS2, it just isnt getting the most of things. The flare, contrast, colour saturation and sharpness are streets behind. The Sigma was after all a consumer grade lens and the original price, at about a third of this Pentax, reflects that . The Pentax 150-450, in comparison, is from another planet. What I didn't count on was it also leaving the 55-300 - a lens that I am plenty fond of, that far in the shades too. It really is stellar and is probably the sharpest lens I have ever used. But it is quite heavy, all 5 pounds of it. Though I recall feeling that way about the Sigma when I first got it. The Pentax is probably about a pound and a third heavier and the barrel is somewhat fatter. The autofocus, coupled to the KS2 rocks for me. Unless you are shifting your focus point from 2m to near infinity, it was plenty quick. Small changes in focusing distances are almost indetectable and very silent. My arm did tire after about 35 minutes of handholding. But thats a matter of practice and getting used to. Remember feeling that way when I first got the Sigma so many years ago.

03-07-2016, 10:06 PM - 1 Like	#5
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,160	They've come up nicely detailed with good lighting.

03-08-2016, 03:10 AM - 1 Like	#6
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Hi Andrew. Fantastic series of photographs. I can foresee many photographs being posted in the future with you new " baby." Very well taken.

03-08-2016, 07:12 AM - 1 Like	#7
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461	Congrats on the new lens and welcome to the forums. Looking forward to seeing more of your wildlife shots.

03-08-2016, 07:17 AM - 1 Like	#8
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,695	Great images. I particularly like #2 of the pigeons!