[dadipentak]

Technically, isn't it off-white / gray-ish / silver-ish?

Thanks for the responses. I confess to having used "white" loosely (I should know better to do that among serious photographers) and, for the record, greatly admire Canadian cold-weather fortitude. The heat management explanation is plausible but I did feel a need to cover my A*400/2.8 when I had it out birding.

[Canada_Rockies]

Yesterday it was nice, here, dadipentak - but today we had -17 C (-1 F) when I got up. It was chilly taking out the garbage. Here, we think it's cold when we get down to -25 C (-13 F). or the magic number! -40 C and F at the same time.

[SteveM]

I was happy to move back to Canada to get away from those cold US winters . It dropped down to +7 (45 F) here last night.

We're a few weeks away from the Victoria flower count festival Victoria Flower Count, but there are a few things cropping up. These are from last weekend...

[Canada_Rockies]

Grumble.

[SteveM]

Grumble.

You have to pick your poison. It can start raining here and not stop for weeks in the winter . I travel with work regularly and get alarmed when I go to other locations and see a large bright yellow sphere in the sky....

[Digitalis]

One concern of mine for the new 560mm f/5.6 ED is that its optical design is derived from an astronomy telescope lens design, I wonder how well it will perform at closer distances, and what it's minimum focus distance will be? Also how the focus limiter on the lens itself works will be important as well.

[jpzk]

One concern of mine for the new 560mm f/5.6 ED is that its optical design is derived from an astronomy telescope lens design, I wonder how well it will perform at closer distances, and what it's minimum focus distance will be? Also how the focus limiter on the lens itself works will be important as well.

I couldn't help but notice your timely post about the design of the 560/5.6 lens.

I am hoping that its IQ will be just as good as that of my DA*300/4 and, why would it have a focus limiter if this is going to be a [IF] lens ?

We are all guessing what this lens will/would be, but little is know except for this:
SMC Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

JP

[Digitalis]

I couldn't help but notice your timely post about the design of the 560/5.6 lens. I am hoping that its IQ will be just as good as that of my DA*300/4 and, why would it have a focus limiter if this is going to be a [IF] lens ?

focus limiters are a great way of dealing with AF hunting, especially if the lens has a wide focus range. A 560mm lens is pretty long 840mm on pentax DSLR cameras and things can get out of focus pretty quickly even at f/5.6, so being able to control the range a lens will be able to focus it will mean the lens will in general be able to focus quicker. And knowing pentax Telescopes this lens will probably be pretty damn good at least at or near infinity....at closer distances I cannot say.

[dadipentak]

why would it have a focus limiter if this is going to be a [IF] lens ?

Oh, I think a focus limiter is a great feature on a long telephoto. I believe the FA 300/2.8 has it. When you're shooting birds in the landscape it often happens that you lose contact with the subject so that the lens has to go hunting through the entire range. For reasons I've already noted, I'm not interested in buying this lens but, for those who are interested, I hope it has the focus limiting function. Also gun-sight.

[Digitalis]

I think a focus limiter is a great feature on a long telephoto. I believe the FA 300/2.8 has it.

Indeed it does, however looking at the picture of the DA 560mm f/5.6 I'm a little curious about what that thumbscrew and rubber grip near the lens mount are for, I hope the thumbscrew indicates there is a compartment for 49mm drop-in filters. Also the tripod collar foot doesn't seem to be removable which is disappointing, I rather like the design of the tripod collar pentax used on the DA*60-250mm f/4 - with the detachable foot. It is also likely that the tripod collar has click-stops for the vertical and horizontal orientation like the Pentax 67 400mm f/4 ED [IF] lens does.

Also let us all hope pentax doesn't provide the lens in yet another metal trunk case with PENTAX SUPER-TELEPHOTO in bright red lettering that just screams out "steal me! I'm an expensive lens!!" I have nothing against telephoto lenses having metal trunk cases, but I do have an issue with the lack of subtlety on the manufacturer's part.

[dadipentak]

Also let us all hope pentax doesn't provide the lens in yet another metal trunk case with PENTAX SUPER-TELEPHOTO in bright red lettering that just screams out "steal me! I'm an expensive lens!!" I have nothing against telephoto lenses having metal trunk cases, but I do have an issue with the lack of subtlety on the manufacturer's part.

[8540tomg]

Hey Dave,

Was that the 1000mm you used on the Starling?

Tom G

[littledrawe]

Kestrel from the overcast day we had today:

[dadipentak]

Hey Dave,

Was that the 1000mm you used on the Starling?

Tom G

Hi Tom, No, that was with the Sigma 500/4.5.

[mclarenman01]

Kestrel from the overcast day we had today:

That kestrel is so beautiful! I love the colours!