300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses

r0ckstarr · 03-15-2015, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by repaap

you have so good shots at here. I have to bring it down little...

Nice photos.

Originally posted by AggieDad

Did they relax smoking tiny cigarettes?

**jacamar** · 03-15-2015, 11:23 AM

One of my favourite ducks - White-winged Scoter, unusually close to shore on a cool and blustery day.

DA*300mm, 1.4x teleconverter, cropped.

repaap · 03-15-2015, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by r0ckstarr

Nice photos.

Thank you!

lukulele · 03-15-2015, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by repaap

you have so good shots at here. I have to bring it down little...

I was having fun with my A 400/5.6...have to practice some focusing...fast birds.

Nice work repaap. The A/400 is a handful, literally and figuratively, forcing you to think about every possibility from composition to pre focusing. An inexpensive gimbal can help immensely. Keep it up!

lukulele · 03-15-2015, 12:11 PM - **2 Likes**

A/400 Cardinal series photo bomb.

tim60 · 03-15-2015, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by repaap

you have so good shots at here. I have to bring it down little...

I was having fun with my A 400/5.6...have to practice some focusing...fast birds.

Actually I find these well done. I like the bokeh effect that highlights the bird.

**csa** · 03-15-2015, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by tim60

Actually I find these well done. I like the bokeh effect that highlights the bird.

Agreed! The first one (repaap's) has a beautiful bokeh effect; I love the colors behind the bird!

RobG · 03-15-2015, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by gatorguy

With the weather so nice lately I'm sooo tempted to give that Russian 500mm 3M-5CA mirror lens a shot. For $150 it's not that much of a gamble and probably easy to sell if I don't care for it.

I have a ProOptic mirror lens which I've barely touched since I got a DA55-300, mainly because it's hell to focus without a bright split image focussing screen. At f6.3 and 500mm, the DOF is razor thin, which makes getting the focus right rather hard. On the bright side it's compact and easy to carry compared to a conventional lens. I have got some nice photos out of it, but the standard Pentax focussing screen really isn't suitable.

RockvilleBob · 03-15-2015, 04:45 PM

Saturday was the annual Eagle Festival at Blackwater at the Blackwater NWR on the Chesapeake Bay but the weather was terrible so I skipped it and went today. There were eagles but to far off from any accessible vantage point. However I did spot some White Pelicans - not that common in the region. I couldn't figure out what spooked the pelicans I was watching but got a few taking off. When I went through the images I noticed the eagle that landed in the nearby water, right background, and another flying to the left. There was actually a third one that got cropped out. Still far off ... but it didn't matter since I did not notice the eagles until I got home. Looking through a viewfinder gives you tunnel vision.

Ian Stuart Forsyth · 03-15-2015, 09:38 PM - **1 Like**

An old goose in the only open water he could find
Shot with the K10d sigma 300 F/2.8 & 1.4 sigma converter

Stavri · 03-15-2015, 09:44 PM - **3 Likes**

K5iis + Sigma 300mm f2.8 on my favorite test subject.

Ian Stuart Forsyth · 03-15-2015, 09:48 PM

Originally posted by Stavri

K5iis + Sigma 300mm f2.8 on my favorite test subject.

Nice cat photo
how do you like the sigma 300 2.8 ?

Stavri · 03-15-2015, 09:59 PM

Originally posted by Ian Stuart Forsyth

Nice cat photo
how do you like the sigma 300 2.8 ?

It's the most expensive lens I own, big and heavy. Relatively quick AF generally nails focus with little hunting on the K3(it has a long focus throw) IQ is very good and bokeh is excellent (it's a 300mm f2.8 after all) Those who own both claim that the EX 300mm f2.8 is slightly sharper than the EX 500mm f4.5. My copy was re-chipped and calibrated by the previous owner, I hear it's somewhat of a necessity when bought new since they often exhibit B/F focus issues. Overall I'm happy, render's a bit cooler, yellowish greenish for my taste, wish it had SMC (I'm a sucker for them pentax colors

)

Ian Stuart Forsyth · 03-15-2015, 10:20 PM

Originally posted by Stavri

It's the most expensive lens I own, big and heavy. Relatively quick AF generally nails focus with little hunting on the K3(it has a long focus throw) IQ is very good and bokeh is excellent (it's a 300mm f2.8 after all) Those who own both claim that the EX 300mm f2.8 is slightly sharper than the EX 500mm f4.5. My copy was re-chipped and calibrated by the previous owner, I hear it's somewhat of a necessity when bought new since they often exhibit B/F focus issues. Overall I'm happy, render's a bit cooler, yellowish greenish for my taste, wish it had SMC (I'm a sucker for them pentax colors

)

I picked mine up in 2008 brand new and had it worked on in 2010 (edit 2011).
It wasn’t till the K5 came around that I started having problems with it, I could calibrate it the night before and the next day I would have a focus shift well out of the adjustment allotted by focus correction in the K5. I even had this shift mid shooting it was to the point I keep the k5 in debug mode to correct it in the field or just use the katseye focus screen. Put it on the other bodies and no problems.
But I do like the lens as it is sharp wide open, is a nice size wildlife work and I like the transition in the OOF in the images it creates.

Stavri · 03-15-2015, 10:26 PM

Originally posted by Ian Stuart Forsyth

I picked mine up in 2008 brand new and had it worked on in 2010.
It wasn’t till the K5 came around that I started having problems with it, I could calibrate it the night before and the next day I would have a focus shift well out of the adjustment allotted by focus correction in the K5. I even had this shift mid shooting it was to the point I keep the k5 in debug mode to correct it in the field or just use the katseye focus screen. Put it on the other bodies and no problems.
But I do like the lens as it is sharp wide open, is a nice size work wildlife work and I like the transition in the OOF in the images it creates.

My copy worked well with the K5iis and continues to do so on the K3. I'm no sigma technician but It seems a chip upgrade might be in order, although these lenses are warranted for 4 years only. I'm probably reiterating what you already know but given the investment on this lens is worth considering a body upgrade.

03-15-2015, 04:45 PM	#15969
RockvilleBob Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Lewes DE USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,780	Saturday was the annual Eagle Festival at Blackwater at the Blackwater NWR on the Chesapeake Bay but the weather was terrible so I skipped it and went today. There were eagles but to far off from any accessible vantage point. However I did spot some White Pelicans - not that common in the region. I couldn't figure out what spooked the pelicans I was watching but got a few taking off. When I went through the images I noticed the eagle that landed in the nearby water, right background, and another flying to the left. There was actually a third one that got cropped out. Still far off ... but it didn't matter since I did not notice the eagles until I got home. Looking through a viewfinder gives you tunnel vision. Attached Images

03-15-2015, 09:38 PM - 1 Like	#15970
Ian Stuart Forsyth Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,531	Back a little to early An old goose in the only open water he could find Shot with the K10d sigma 300 F/2.8 & 1.4 sigma converter

03-15-2015, 10:20 PM	#15974
Ian Stuart Forsyth Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,531	Originally posted by Stavri It's the most expensive lens I own, big and heavy. Relatively quick AF generally nails focus with little hunting on the K3(it has a long focus throw) IQ is very good and bokeh is excellent (it's a 300mm f2.8 after all) Those who own both claim that the EX 300mm f2.8 is slightly sharper than the EX 500mm f4.5. My copy was re-chipped and calibrated by the previous owner, I hear it's somewhat of a necessity when bought new since they often exhibit B/F focus issues. Overall I'm happy, render's a bit cooler, yellowish greenish for my taste, wish it had SMC (I'm a sucker for them pentax colors ) I picked mine up in 2008 brand new and had it worked on in 2010 (edit 2011). It wasn’t till the K5 came around that I started having problems with it, I could calibrate it the night before and the next day I would have a focus shift well out of the adjustment allotted by focus correction in the K5. I even had this shift mid shooting it was to the point I keep the k5 in debug mode to correct it in the field or just use the katseye focus screen. Put it on the other bodies and no problems. But I do like the lens as it is sharp wide open, is a nice size wildlife work and I like the transition in the OOF in the images it creates. Last edited by Ian Stuart Forsyth; 03-15-2015 at 10:26 PM.

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03-15-2015, 11:14 AM	#15961
r0ckstarr Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,507	Originally posted by repaap you have so good shots at here. I have to bring it down little... Nice photos. Originally posted by AggieDad Did they relax smoking tiny cigarettes?

03-15-2015, 11:23 AM	#15962
jacamar Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Albums Posts: 3,443	One of my favourite ducks - White-winged Scoter, unusually close to shore on a cool and blustery day. DA*300mm, 1.4x teleconverter, cropped.

03-15-2015, 12:01 PM	#15963
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Originally posted by r0ckstarr Nice photos. Thank you!

03-15-2015, 12:02 PM	#15964
lukulele Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Blue Ridge Escarpment, North Carolina, US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,850	Originally posted by repaap you have so good shots at here. I have to bring it down little... I was having fun with my A 400/5.6...have to practice some focusing...fast birds. Nice work repaap. The A/400 is a handful, literally and figuratively, forcing you to think about every possibility from composition to pre focusing. An inexpensive gimbal can help immensely. Keep it up!

03-15-2015, 12:18 PM	#15966
tim60 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8,757	Originally posted by repaap you have so good shots at here. I have to bring it down little... I was having fun with my A 400/5.6...have to practice some focusing...fast birds. Actually I find these well done. I like the bokeh effect that highlights the bird.

03-15-2015, 02:45 PM	#15967
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Originally posted by tim60 Actually I find these well done. I like the bokeh effect that highlights the bird. Agreed! The first one (repaap's) has a beautiful bokeh effect; I love the colors behind the bird!

03-15-2015, 02:55 PM	#15968
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,905	Originally posted by gatorguy With the weather so nice lately I'm sooo tempted to give that Russian 500mm 3M-5CA mirror lens a shot. For $150 it's not that much of a gamble and probably easy to sell if I don't care for it. I have a ProOptic mirror lens which I've barely touched since I got a DA55-300, mainly because it's hell to focus without a bright split image focussing screen. At f6.3 and 500mm, the DOF is razor thin, which makes getting the focus right rather hard. On the bright side it's compact and easy to carry compared to a conventional lens. I have got some nice photos out of it, but the standard Pentax focussing screen really isn't suitable.

03-15-2015, 09:44 PM - 3 Likes	#15971
Stavri Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,832	K5iis + Sigma 300mm f2.8 on my favorite test subject.

03-15-2015, 09:48 PM	#15972
Ian Stuart Forsyth Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,531	Originally posted by Stavri K5iis + Sigma 300mm f2.8 on my favorite test subject. Nice cat photo how do you like the sigma 300 2.8 ?

03-15-2015, 09:59 PM	#15973
Stavri Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,832	Originally posted by Ian Stuart Forsyth Nice cat photo how do you like the sigma 300 2.8 ? It's the most expensive lens I own, big and heavy. Relatively quick AF generally nails focus with little hunting on the K3(it has a long focus throw) IQ is very good and bokeh is excellent (it's a 300mm f2.8 after all) Those who own both claim that the EX 300mm f2.8 is slightly sharper than the EX 500mm f4.5. My copy was re-chipped and calibrated by the previous owner, I hear it's somewhat of a necessity when bought new since they often exhibit B/F focus issues. Overall I'm happy, render's a bit cooler, yellowish greenish for my taste, wish it had SMC (I'm a sucker for them pentax colors )

03-15-2015, 10:26 PM	#15975
Stavri Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,832	Originally posted by Ian Stuart Forsyth I picked mine up in 2008 brand new and had it worked on in 2010. It wasn’t till the K5 came around that I started having problems with it, I could calibrate it the night before and the next day I would have a focus shift well out of the adjustment allotted by focus correction in the K5. I even had this shift mid shooting it was to the point I keep the k5 in debug mode to correct it in the field or just use the katseye focus screen. Put it on the other bodies and no problems. But I do like the lens as it is sharp wide open, is a nice size work wildlife work and I like the transition in the OOF in the images it creates. My copy worked well with the K5iis and continues to do so on the K3. I'm no sigma technician but It seems a chip upgrade might be in order, although these lenses are warranted for 4 years only. I'm probably reiterating what you already know but given the investment on this lens is worth considering a body upgrade.