300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses

brewmaster15 · 03-31-2017, 03:19 PM

F*300 with tamron 1.4 AF TC... I am really happy with this combination, wasnt sure I would be but its definetly a good match on the K3.

al

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Pentaxians · 03-31-2017, 10:50 PM - **5 Likes**

I got some Laughingthrush during my early trip. Sharing the Red-tailed Laughingthrush, a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is found in China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

biz-engineer · 04-01-2017, 07:47 AM - **2 Likes**

Beautiful but very far away. Heavy crop from DFA 150450 @ 400. Those Grebes plunge and swim underwater. After they plunge, we have to double guess where they've going to come out of water.

**Canada_Rockies** · 04-01-2017, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by Aslyfox

the biggest danger while hunting or driving in bad weather can be the other guy/gal

The last time my brother, my father and I went hunting, many years ago, we were doing the one sits, two drive hunting pattern. I was the sitter. A "sound shooter" missed me by a foot vertically into the tree. I almost "accidentally" shot another hunter with a .303; safety off, in my sights and finger on the trigger. I've never been in the woods in hunting season since that day over 50 years ago. My father and my brother quit too. Way too close a call.

Unfortunately, as the population of the world increases, the number on the bell curve that fall into the 10% nobody thinks should exist is becoming much larger.

Inteligente · 04-01-2017, 12:25 PM - **8 Likes**

1 April - International Bird Day!!!

Today's photo

Ducatigaz · 04-01-2017, 12:54 PM - **10 Likes**

3 more Grass Snake [Natrix natrix] pics taken with my K-5/FA*600mmF4ED[IF]/Gitzo1348

**aslyfox** · 04-01-2017, 02:52 PM

what can I say, on that day things just happen to be ducky at the Topeka Zoological Park

1 drake and hen mallards "cruisin"

You Tube

2 drake and hen wood ducks - "sitting ducks"

You Tube

3 drake wood duck "don't worry be happy"

You Tube

K 3 + HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW hand held

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**rkappleby** · 04-01-2017, 03:48 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Ducatigaz

3 more Grass Snake

Those are amazingly sharp Gary, what aperture were you shooting at?

Ducatigaz · 04-01-2017, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by rkappleby

Those are amazingly sharp Gary, what aperture were you shooting at?

I was near to the minimum focus distance and at f8

**c.a.m** · 04-01-2017, 05:07 PM - **8 Likes**

An early-spring snowfall provided a glorious early-morning setting for this young white-tailed deer. (Posted previously in the Photo Critique forum.)

The DA* 300 never fails to impress me.

- Craig

biz-engineer · 04-01-2017, 10:49 PM

Originally posted by c.a.m

An early-spring snowfall provided a glorious early-morning setting for this young white-tailed deer.

Nice subject / composition / pop.

**Fries** · 04-02-2017, 04:11 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by micromacro

I took out K5iis with DA*300 and TC today.

Wow, that really looks prehistoric!

Sanderling on the coast of the island of Vlieland.

**WPRESTO** · 04-02-2017, 04:45 AM

Originally posted by micromacro

I took out K5iis with DA*300 and TC today.

Excellent example of creative framing making an image.

JML69 · 04-02-2017, 06:21 AM - **5 Likes**

Yesterday Morning in the back yard, sure wish the K-3ii had better autofocus......

normhead · 04-02-2017, 10:10 AM - **1 Like**

My backyard blind has kind of turned into a lens testing place. Today's candidate up for a trial run, the K-1 with the A-400 and F 1.7x AF adapter on it. 680mm ƒ9.3.

I tend to think the 1.7x is my ultimate lens testing machine. With the K-3 and Tarmon 300 ƒ2.8 and 1.7 I get very sharp images. With the A-400 , I get images that look good up to about 2650x1600. Pixel peeping they are quite soft, but still more resolution than you need for web sized images.

The Tamron is also a joy to use with the 1.7, one finger drag MF that is almost instantaneous. The A-400 has a long throw that has to be cranked with your full hand. It's really hard to catch up with small birds using it. With the Tamron, one pinky finger on the focus ring and a small movement gets you from minimum focus to infinity almost instantly. No taking your hand off the lens and torquing again.

Even in direct sun it was hard to lock focus. That is to be expected with a lens that is ƒ9.3 wide open. But as with most long lenses, when you nail it, you get something useful.

Ignore the 780mm on the bottom of the frame, my math was really bad this morning.

I put the combo through it's paces but bottom line, I can't really recommend it. It was more work for fewer keepers, and none of the images is anywhere near the sharpness of the Tamron 300 with the same TC on a K-3. I was thinking I'd maybe use this combo when I need 1000mm and then crop to a 1000mm field of view, it's not sharp enough for that. At least it focuses on a K-1. On a K-3 I have never been able to get it to focus reliably. It's not that it's all that bad, it's just I feel the Tamron 1.7 and K-3 are much better. Having a lens rated as a 10 for sharpness on the forum ruins you for anything else.

It's amazing how sharp a 2k file taken with an average lens and TC can be reduced from 36 MP.

04-01-2017, 05:07 PM - 8 Likes	#25135
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189	*A White-tailed Deer in the sights of a DA 300mm** An early-spring snowfall provided a glorious early-morning setting for this young white-tailed deer. (Posted previously in the Photo Critique forum.) The DA* 300 never fails to impress me. - Craig

04-02-2017, 04:11 AM - 1 Like	#25137
Fries Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gauw Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,582	Originally posted by micromacro I took out K5iis with DA300 and TC today. Wow, that really looks prehistoric! Sanderling on the coast of the island of Vlieland. Last edited by Fries; 04-02-2017 at 04:36 AM.*

04-02-2017, 10:10 AM - 1 Like	#25140
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	My backyard blind has kind of turned into a lens testing place. Today's candidate up for a trial run, the K-1 with the A-400 and F 1.7x AF adapter on it. 680mm ƒ9.3. I tend to think the 1.7x is my ultimate lens testing machine. With the K-3 and Tarmon 300 ƒ2.8 and 1.7 I get very sharp images. With the A-400 , I get images that look good up to about 2650x1600. Pixel peeping they are quite soft, but still more resolution than you need for web sized images. The Tamron is also a joy to use with the 1.7, one finger drag MF that is almost instantaneous. The A-400 has a long throw that has to be cranked with your full hand. It's really hard to catch up with small birds using it. With the Tamron, one pinky finger on the focus ring and a small movement gets you from minimum focus to infinity almost instantly. No taking your hand off the lens and torquing again. Even in direct sun it was hard to lock focus. That is to be expected with a lens that is ƒ9.3 wide open. But as with most long lenses, when you nail it, you get something useful. Ignore the 780mm on the bottom of the frame, my math was really bad this morning. I put the combo through it's paces but bottom line, I can't really recommend it. It was more work for fewer keepers, and none of the images is anywhere near the sharpness of the Tamron 300 with the same TC on a K-3. I was thinking I'd maybe use this combo when I need 1000mm and then crop to a 1000mm field of view, it's not sharp enough for that. At least it focuses on a K-1. On a K-3 I have never been able to get it to focus reliably. It's not that it's all that bad, it's just I feel the Tamron 1.7 and K-3 are much better. Having a lens rated as a 10 for sharpness on the forum ruins you for anything else. It's amazing how sharp a 2k file taken with an average lens and TC can be reduced from 36 MP. Last edited by normhead; 04-02-2017 at 10:58 AM.

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03-31-2017, 10:50 PM - 5 Likes	#25127
Pentaxians Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 733	I got some Laughingthrush during my early trip. Sharing the Red-tailed Laughingthrush, a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is found in China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

04-01-2017, 07:53 AM	#25129
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Aslyfox the biggest danger while hunting or driving in bad weather can be the other guy/gal The last time my brother, my father and I went hunting, many years ago, we were doing the one sits, two drive hunting pattern. I was the sitter. A "sound shooter" missed me by a foot vertically into the tree. I almost "accidentally" shot another hunter with a .303; safety off, in my sights and finger on the trigger. I've never been in the woods in hunting season since that day over 50 years ago. My father and my brother quit too. Way too close a call. Unfortunately, as the population of the world increases, the number on the bell curve that fall into the 10% nobody thinks should exist is becoming much larger.

04-01-2017, 12:25 PM - 8 Likes	#25130
Inteligente Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Cherkassy Posts: 56	1 April - International Bird Day!!! Today's photo

04-01-2017, 12:54 PM - 10 Likes	#25131
Ducatigaz Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Blunsdon,Wiltshire, UK Posts: 1,504	3 more Grass Snake [Natrix natrix] pics taken with my K-5/FA*600mmF4ED[IF]/Gitzo1348

04-01-2017, 03:48 PM - 1 Like	#25133
rkappleby Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Crowsnest Pass Alberta Posts: 648	Originally posted by Ducatigaz 3 more Grass Snake Those are amazingly sharp Gary, what aperture were you shooting at?

04-01-2017, 03:53 PM	#25134
Ducatigaz Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Blunsdon,Wiltshire, UK Posts: 1,504	Originally posted by rkappleby Those are amazingly sharp Gary, what aperture were you shooting at? I was near to the minimum focus distance and at f8

04-01-2017, 10:49 PM	#25136
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,232	Originally posted by c.a.m An early-spring snowfall provided a glorious early-morning setting for this young white-tailed deer. Nice subject / composition / pop.

04-02-2017, 04:45 AM	#25138
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,107	Originally posted by micromacro I took out K5iis with DA*300 and TC today. Excellent example of creative framing making an image.