[woodywesty]

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Just a sparrow (Sigma 150-500)... Don't know why but it seems me that I'm getting better results from this lens than from DA*60-250 & 1.4TC. (Not sure what could be the reason. Could it be the protective UV filter? I have B+W on Sigma and Hoya on 60-250. Anyway it's like there's huge difference in resolution - cropped images from Sigma look much better.)

Nice sparrow shot! And maybe your DA*60-250 needs some focus adjustment?

[normhead]

For images close to you the extra reach of the 500 will make a difference. The 60-250 is only 250mm at infinity, it's about 135mm at 12-15 feet. Even with the 1.4 it's only 350 at infinity. I would suspect that if you shot the Sigma at 200 and the Pentax at 200mm, the Pentax would be better. And at infinity much better. But for wildlife, I'm just as happy shooting with my Sigma 70-300 or my F 70-210. The 60-250 is a great landscape lens, but it really doesn't have the magnification for small critters that you are close to.

You didn't post any example photos but here is one of mine taken with the DA*60-250 and 1.4 TC, the first crop is 4200 x 3100, the second is detail at 1:1.





Personally I don't see much lack of sharpness. I'd be interested in seeing comparable images from the Sigma 50-500.The top image is about 4 times the size of the bird..

[boriscleto]

This is one of the first shot I took with the 150-500



Cropped to .5 MP



About a month later.

[wtlwdwgn]

Nice shot. It doesn't look like the focus was on the eye though. That's hard to get with all the leaves and branches.

[boriscleto]

Nice shot. It doesn't look like the focus was on the eye though. That's hard to get with all the leaves and branches.

I had only had the lens for a few days at this point. So I was really just learning how to use it. I have found that 1/1000s @ F10 is just a little better than 1/1250s @ F8. Still, it's hard to get those little birds when they are moving around.

[wtlwdwgn]

I agree. With practice you'll nail that eye!

[r0ckstarr]

I'm sure everyone is excited about the new 150-450 and how it performs as am I.

I'm still pretty set on getting the 560, but if the 150-450 proves itself a worthy lens, I may change my mind. I'm waiting to see actual user photos from it first (not sample test charts).

[derekkite]

I'm still pretty set on getting the 560, but if the 150-450 proves itself a worthy lens, I may change my mind. I'm waiting to see actual user photos from it first (not sample test charts).

It depends if it is sharp wide open at the long end. If so a WR long zoom would be worthwhile.

[r0ckstarr]

It depends if it is sharp wide open at the long end. If so a WR long zoom would be worthwhile.

Yep. I agree. I really have no use for anything new up to 300mm as I have that covered.

[Reptilezz]

It depends if it is sharp wide open at the long end. If so a WR long zoom would be worthwhile.

I'm also only going to consider it if it's sharp wide open at 450mm, seeing as the launch price is well over that of the 150-500. What price is the 560 going for these days?

[r0ckstarr]

What price is the 560 going for these days?

High enough to wait longer and see if it comes down any.

Pentax DA 560mm f/5.6 ED AW Lens 22180 B&H Photo Video

[zzeitg]

I think this is the best price for EU citizens: Pentax SMC HD Da 560mm F5 6 Ed AW Super Telephoto New UK Stock 2 yr Gtee | eBay


(this is really tempting... but I did not lose leftovers of sense to click for it...)

[boriscleto]

what price is the 560 going for these days?

$5,100

Scratch that, looks like Emmy sold it...

Best Amazon price is from Tokyo. $5,560

[zzeitg]

You've just insulted one of the Holy DA*. I'm sure you'll be told why you are wrong, and that a consumer lens could never be as good.

No, not like this. I like my 60-250 a lot. But if I thought that as combo with 1.4 TC it could be used for birds, I was wrong. That's at least my feeling right now.

Look for vibrations. I had a tough time getting results from the DA*300 + 1.4 TC because of shutter vibrations. Try higher shutter speeds than you are used to.

Even at f6.3 1/1000 it's not OK. The pics look fine in normal size but all details are lost when I crop the image. I'll try later to stop down even more

Nice sparrow shot! And maybe your DA*60-250 needs some focus adjustment?

Thanks! I don't think this is the reason, but maybe I'll try to test it.

For images close to you the extra reach of the 500 will make a difference. The 60-250 is only 250mm at infinity, it's about 135mm at 12-15 feet. Even with the 1.4 it's only 350 at infinity. I would suspect that if you shot the Sigma at 200 and the Pentax at 200mm, the Pentax would be better. And at infinity much better. But for wildlife, I'm just as happy shooting with my Sigma 70-300 or my F 70-210. The 60-250 is a great landscape lens, but it really doesn't have the magnification for small critters that you are close to.

You didn't post any example photos but here is one of mine taken with the DA*60-250 and 1.4 TC, the first crop is 4200 x 3100, the second is detail at 1:1.

Personally I don't see much lack of sharpness. I'd be interested in seeing comparable images from the Sigma 50-500.The top image is about 4 times the size of the bird..

Could be that the magnification is the point. Or there's something I'm doing wrong. Right now my result would be that 60-250 (even with 1.4 TC) is not long enough for small birds. I plan to test the lens alone without TC (and with Hoya UV filter removed).


Another sparrow shot with 150-500:




And a blue tit:

[derekkite]

You could have a soft one. When I said higher shutter speeds than otherwise I meant 1/1600 or so.