I am saving up for a new lens. I am not very happy with the Tamron 70-300. Looking at the Sigma 50-500 or the Sigma 100-300 since I have the teleconverters for those lenses.

[scabana]

Lovely birds with their red heads and long legs.

[vihuk]

Really funny birds x) my favorite shot it's number 2 and 3 !

[C_Jones]

They look pretty big (the birds).

Like you said, the TC woud give you more reach. I have the Sigma 150-500 and it does very well with my K-3II. I once ordered a Sigma 50-500, but it did not focus with my K-5IIS at the long end, so I returned it. I used my 150-500 with my K-5IIS successfully. When I first got my 150-500, the reach gave me so much more opportunity than I had had before. Good luck. I hope you get something you enjoy.

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Last edited by C_Jones; 04-02-2016 at 07:05 PM.

[Heavenly Creation]

They look pretty big (the birds).

Like you said, the TC woud give you more reach. I have the Sigma 150-500 and it does very well with my K-3II. I once ordered a Sigma 50-500, but it did not focus with my K-5IIS at the long end, so I returned it. I used my 150-500 with my K-5IIS successfully. When I first got my 150-500, the reach gave me so much more opportunity than I had had before. Good luck. I hope you get something you enjoy.

Thanks, I want to get a lens that will give me better reach plus a sharper image. Unfortunately I purchased two converters before I realized the converters I got can only be used with certain lenses so I am limited in which ones I can get to use with them and still give a better quality picture than the ones I have.

These photos I was about 50 ft away from the birds and the quality is not what I expect. The Quantaray 70-300 does decent enough on macro but a little blurry on photos like these.

Lenses are so pricey though, it will be a bit before I get the 1500$ lens. lol

[C_Jones]

If you plan on buying the Sigma 50-500, the price is about $1459. The used Sigma 150-500 is about $778. You would want to make sure they are the K-mount. The Pentax 150-450 is about $2496. I see those lenses occasionally for sale (used) on this site. You could maybe sell your Tamron and TCs and put it towards one of them. The 150-500 seems to be a bit easier to handle and lighter than the 50-500, and it does a great job. Don't let false negative reviews fool you. I know the prospect of buying a new 50-500 is very tempting instead of getting a used lens also, but the 150-500 does the job.

Having the 500 range will really get you that advantage. I know it is your decision, and I hope you are able to get what you need.

Not that you have made your decision yet and there will also be other offers including on this site, I saw a 150-500 (used) on Amazon at the following web address. It mentions a 1 year guarantee, and that it is covered by the "Amazon A-Z" guarantee also.

Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras

[C_Jones]

Attached is a picture of a Blue Heron flying above Lake Champlain I took with a K-5 and the Sigma 150-500 DG OS. The lens has done very well for me as far as sharpness and image quality.

Edit: I also attached a picture of a seagull wading in the lake. I used my K-3II and Sigma 150-500 DG OS for that.

Both are crops of original images and were taken at 500 mm.

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Last edited by C_Jones; 04-03-2016 at 02:47 PM.

[scabana]

I am saving up for a new lens. I am not very happy with the Tamron 70-300. Looking at the Sigma 50-500 or the Sigma 100-300 since I have the teleconverters for those lenses.

Here's a good price on a Pentax 150-450
Pentax US Pricing Roundup - End of March - Deals and Savings | PentaxForums.com

[Scorpio71GR]

Nice shots still of the Sandhill Cranes. I never see them in town like that here. I have had the Sigma 50-500 OS for awhile now. It is big and heavy. I can only carry it for a few hours. If I was to buy new I would go for the Pentax 150-450. I bought my Sigma used. The 150-500 Sigma does just as good of a job as the 50-500 and can be found cheaper.

Here is a few shots of some Sandhill Cranes with the 50-500 on the K3 handheld.

[C_Jones]

Scorpio71GR 47,

Those are really nice pictures of the cranes.

[Scorpio71GR]

Thank you, I was really close. I was able to sneak down close to them. The 50-500 does really well when you can get close. From far away not so well.

[wtlwdwgn]

I can vouch for both the 100-300 f/4 and 150-500. If you don't need the extra reach the 100-300 is a great lens and with its internal zoom and focus I never worried about using it in light rain or snow showers.. I have a 150-500 now and I like the images I'm getting but I make sure to use a rainsleeve if there's a chance of precip. Just my $0.02.

[gatorguy]

Nice shots still of the Sandhill Cranes. I never see them in town like that here. I have had the Sigma 50-500 OS for awhile now. It is big and heavy. I can only carry it for a few hours. If I was to buy new I would go for the Pentax 150-450. I bought my Sigma used. The 150-500 Sigma does just as good of a job as the 50-500 and can be found cheaper.

Here is a few shots of some Sandhill Cranes with the 50-500 on the K3 handheld.

Here's another Sandhill pic, taken with a Pentax D FA105 Macro. Dang lucky to get this one.

[scabana]

Oh this is gorgeous. A 105? Wow. Nicely done.

[gatorguy]

Oh this is gorgeous. A 105? Wow. Nicely done.

OOPS! Meant 100... The D FA 100 2.8 WR. That was one of the very first pics I'd taken with it, just got it Thursday and the weather had been poor until Sunday. Color me impressed!