[Kameko]

I didn't even realize the 560 had it's own club till now.

Cross posted from the 300 club. Family of flickers


My lucky day the other week. Spent over an hour sitting maybe 30 feet away watching him fish and catch dragonflies

[Kath]

I didn't even realize the 560 had it's own club till now.
My lucky day the other week. Spent over an hour sitting maybe 30 feet away watching him fish and catch dragonflies

This is a great photograph. Love the colors and the reflection. Looks like you're enjoying your 560!

[Kath]

Hello 560 folks. I posted today in the lens forum a request from people who have/have used either a 560 or a Sigma 500. I'm going to make that big purchase and have narrowed it down to those two. If you have a moment, could you give me the benefit of your experience on that page?


Here's the forum link where I posted:


https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/302540-pent...me-decide.html


Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

[whatsthisbuttondo]

Isnt the new 150-450 supposed to be as good as a prime ?

[Kath]

Adding to the 560 collection:


Cormorant in Flight
K3 with DA 560
Click twice for Gallery photo detail

[Kath]

Just adding to the 560 collection here.


Northern Flicker
K3 with DA 560
Click twice for EXIF and Gallery photo in detail, if desired

[normhead]

Those are some really great looking images.

[woodywesty]

Just adding to the 560 collection here.


Northern Flicker
K3 with DA 560
Click twice for EXIF and Gallery photo in detail, if desired

Nice pictures Kath..... and you're just getting started with the 560!

[KiloHotelphoto]

Great shots Kath, especially the one over the water.

I haven't been able to get out in the past month to get any shots but did just get my credit card bill for the 560, time to write that check.

[Kath]

Those are some really great looking images.

Thank you, @normhead.

---------- Post added 01-07-16 at 05:26 AM ----------

Nice pictures Kath..... and you're just getting started with the 560!

Thanks, @woodywesty. Turns out, it is a wonderful lens. So responsive!

---------- Post added 01-07-16 at 05:29 AM ----------

Great shots Kath, especially the one over the water.

I haven't been able to get out in the past month to get any shots but did just get my credit card bill for the 560, time to write that check.

Thanks, @KiloHotelphoto. It was great to get out with it. Hope you can soon!

[Chris Mak]

Nice to see more Pentax shooters going for the DA560!
Although the 300+ telelens club is thé place on this forum to post your telelens birding/wildlife pictures, the DA560 sort of deserves a page of its own.
I've had it for a year and use it on the K3.

Chris

[riseform]

I've been favoring the 300 club as well when I post, but here's a little love for the 560 pages.
This one will be representing April for a 2016 calendar put out by a local printing company.

[gaweidert]

Isnt the new 150-450 supposed to be as good as a prime ?

Mine seems to approach the quality of some primes. I am very happy with mine. But who wouldn't love a quality 560mm prime lens.

[woodywesty]

Mine seems to approach the quality of some primes. I am very happy with mine. But who wouldn't love a quality 560mm prime lens.

The pictures you all are posting look really sharp which is what I'm looking for. I've looked and looked for a test/comparison between the DA 560 and Sigma's 500 and it seems that its not been done. Based on what I'm seeing I'm leaning toward the DA 560 the next time the price drops. Can any of you think of a reason to consider the Sigma? I'm looking to photograph birds.


Thanks, Bob

[Kath]

The pictures you all are posting look really sharp which is what I'm looking for. I've looked and looked for a test/comparison between the DA 560 and Sigma's 500 and it seems that its not been done. Based on what I'm seeing I'm leaning toward the DA 560 the next time the price drops. Can any of you think of a reason to consider the Sigma? I'm looking to photograph birds.


Thanks, Bob

Bob, I researched the heck out of this before making the decision to go with the 560, reading everything I could find and asking opinions of folks who owned one or both. I strongly considered the Sigma for two reasons: 1) it's considerably shorter than the 560 and packs into an airline carryon size; and 2) at least one person who had owned both lenses felt the Sigma was sharper.

In the end, those considerations didn't sway me. I decided the chances of my flying with the 560 very often were small; though photographs I saw from the Sigma were sharp, I began to see just as many from the 560 that were equally as sharp; and, lastly, I saw a photograph Kameko took of an eagle using the 560 with the 1.4 teleconverter that just blew me away. It convinced me that these two are made for each other and a reach of 784mm with that kind of clarity was too good to pass up. Finally, I was out bird hunting with my Sigma 150-500 one foggy day and a ton of moisture dripped off the lens. It was then I decided the All-Weather feature on such an expensive lens would give me a lot of peace of mind.

I've taken a couple of thousand shots since getting the 560 and we've become good friends. It's much lighter than the beast I was expecting it to be. The build is very high quality. It handles superbly on the Wimberley. The AF is quick and tack sharp.

Though I'm sure the Sigma is a terrific lens as well, I couldn't be happier with my choice. Given the significant cost, all the worry I experienced beforehand about making the right choice for me has been completely dispelled. Perhaps I would have felt the same way about the Sigma. I'll likely never know.

---------- Post added 01-09-16 at 01:33 AM ----------

Nice to see more Pentax shooters going for the DA560!
Although the 300+ telelens club is thé place on this forum to post your telelens birding/wildlife pictures, the DA560 sort of deserves a page of its own.
I've had it for a year and use it on the K3.

Chris

Gorgeous image, Chris. The colors!

I do think the 560 definitely deserves this page. It helps to have one place where those considering purchasing the 560 can see how it performs and read about our experiences with it. I know it helped me. I hope you'll post more when you can.

---------- Post added 01-09-16 at 01:40 AM ----------

I've been favoring the 300 club as well when I post, but here's a little love for the 560 pages.
This one will be representing April for a 2016 calendar put out by a local printing company.

That's a great one! I clicked on the image to view in Flickr and was well-rewarded. The depth in the eyes is really something. One of the great things I'm discovering about this lens is how it renders a 3D kind of quality.