Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED samples

**boriscleto** · 01-16-2014, 04:02 PM - **1 Like**

sheld · 02-13-2014, 01:41 PM - **1 Like**

How do you work around field curvature for the DA55-300mm, for landscape photos? Here is a shot at 170mm, F/8, which looks pretty good for the web, but the 12"x18" print has soft corners; the center is sharp.

Here's the disappointing soft lower/left corner at 1:1. I'm not sure if this happens at all focal lengths, or if it depends on the focus distance, or if it effects all copies of the lens. I'm just slightly disappointed with my enlargement.

**mgvh** · 02-13-2014, 03:15 PM

One option I've tried to get used to doing is to not compose the shot perfectly when I take it. Instead, zoom out a bit. That will give you some room to do some cropping and also lets you get rid of soft borders and corners. Of course you may also lose some detail in the center, but it's worth a try.

kh1234567890 · 02-14-2014, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by sheld

Here's the disappointing soft lower/left corner at 1:1. I'm not sure if this happens at all focal lengths, or if it depends on the focus distance, or if it effects all copies of the lens. I'm just slightly disappointed with my enlargement.

The bottom left corner seems to be soft on all DA55-300 lenses, even the 'good ones'. Interestingly, there always appears to be more/different distortion there as well.

sheld · 02-14-2014, 01:38 PM

Looking at the print more and it actually isn't quite as noticeable in print, 12"x18", as I originally thought; just irritating that it could be perfect.

waterfall · 02-18-2014, 07:41 AM - **1 Like**

Another Amur tiger in the snow. Como Zoo, St. Paul, MN.

schnitzer79 · 04-14-2014, 06:01 AM

nice photos everyone.
moon shot last night (100% crop)

apete · 05-03-2014, 02:32 PM - **1 Like**

Ah! 55-300! One of my favorite lenses! Sample below was taken in pair with K-X.

waterfall · 05-05-2014, 01:07 PM

The 55-300 can be remarkable. Here is one of many shots of an Unknown birdie in my front yard, Eventually I will identify but if you guys and gals know the bird, so much faster. It was drilling into the turf, looking for food. I see these in the fall and in the spring, never in the heat of summer, by the way.

Dick/Users/dj/Desktop/Photography w Email size Images/Spring Birdie.jpg

waterfall · 05-05-2014, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by waterfall

The 55-300 can be remarkable. Here is one of many shots of an Unknown birdie in my front yard, Eventually I will identify but if you guys and gals know the bird, so much faster. It was drilling into the turf, looking for food. I see these in the fall and in the spring, never in the heat of summer, by the way.

Dick/Users/dj/Desktop/Photography w Email size Images/Spring Birdie.jpg

Houston, we seem to have a problem. Birdie does not appear. Will attempt extra-orbital correction. Oh there he is! Redneck birdie!

**boriscleto** · 05-05-2014, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by waterfall

Houston, we seem to have a problem. Birdie does not appear. Will attempt extra-orbital correction. Oh there he is! Redneck birdie!

That is an adult male Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker.

waterfall · 05-05-2014, 05:37 PM

Thank you for the ID. My bird knowledge lags behind almost all other realms of human endeavor. This species is a woodpecker, I presume? But she really was into dirt this day.

**boriscleto** · 05-05-2014, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by waterfall

Thank you for the ID. My bird knowledge lags behind almost all other realms of human endeavor. This species is a woodpecker, I presume? But she really was into dirt this day.

Yes, a species of woodpecker. But they mostly eat ants and beetles which they dig up with their slightly curved bill.

schnitzer79 · 05-16-2014, 06:19 AM

not as sharp as I wouldve liked

schnitzer79 · 06-10-2014, 01:22 AM - **2 Likes**

02-13-2014, 01:41 PM - 1 Like	#92
sheld Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Austin, TX Photos: Albums Posts: 164	field curvature causing soft corners? How do you work around field curvature for the DA55-300mm, for landscape photos? Here is a shot at 170mm, F/8, which looks pretty good for the web, but the 12"x18" print has soft corners; the center is sharp. Here's the disappointing soft lower/left corner at 1:1. I'm not sure if this happens at all focal lengths, or if it depends on the focus distance, or if it effects all copies of the lens. I'm just slightly disappointed with my enlargement.

05-05-2014, 01:07 PM	#99
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812	Birdie with red Neck Patch The 55-300 can be remarkable. Here is one of many shots of an Unknown birdie in my front yard, Eventually I will identify but if you guys and gals know the bird, so much faster. It was drilling into the turf, looking for food. I see these in the fall and in the spring, never in the heat of summer, by the way. Dick/Users/dj/Desktop/Photography w Email size Images/Spring Birdie.jpg Last edited by waterfall; 05-05-2014 at 01:10 PM. Reason: Image did not load

05-05-2014, 01:15 PM	#100
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812	Originally posted by waterfall The 55-300 can be remarkable. Here is one of many shots of an Unknown birdie in my front yard, Eventually I will identify but if you guys and gals know the bird, so much faster. It was drilling into the turf, looking for food. I see these in the fall and in the spring, never in the heat of summer, by the way. Dick/Users/dj/Desktop/Photography w Email size Images/Spring Birdie.jpg Houston, we seem to have a problem. Birdie does not appear. Will attempt extra-orbital correction. Oh there he is! Redneck birdie! Last edited by waterfall; 01-04-2016 at 06:42 AM.

05-16-2014, 06:19 AM	#104
schnitzer79 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,248	not as sharp as I wouldve liked Last edited by schnitzer79; 06-10-2014 at 01:22 AM.

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01-16-2014, 04:02 PM - 1 Like	#91
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475

02-13-2014, 03:15 PM	#93
mgvh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,030	One option I've tried to get used to doing is to not compose the shot perfectly when I take it. Instead, zoom out a bit. That will give you some room to do some cropping and also lets you get rid of soft borders and corners. Of course you may also lose some detail in the center, but it's worth a try.

02-14-2014, 10:45 AM	#94
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by sheld Here's the disappointing soft lower/left corner at 1:1. I'm not sure if this happens at all focal lengths, or if it depends on the focus distance, or if it effects all copies of the lens. I'm just slightly disappointed with my enlargement. The bottom left corner seems to be soft on all DA55-300 lenses, even the 'good ones'. Interestingly, there always appears to be more/different distortion there as well.

02-14-2014, 01:38 PM	#95
sheld Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Austin, TX Photos: Albums Posts: 164	Looking at the print more and it actually isn't quite as noticeable in print, 12"x18", as I originally thought; just irritating that it could be perfect.

04-14-2014, 06:01 AM	#97
schnitzer79 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,248	nice photos everyone. moon shot last night (100% crop)

05-05-2014, 03:09 PM	#101
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by waterfall Houston, we seem to have a problem. Birdie does not appear. Will attempt extra-orbital correction. Oh there he is! Redneck birdie! That is an adult male Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker.

05-05-2014, 05:37 PM	#102
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812	Thank you for the ID. My bird knowledge lags behind almost all other realms of human endeavor. This species is a woodpecker, I presume? But she really was into dirt this day.

05-05-2014, 06:32 PM	#103
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by waterfall Thank you for the ID. My bird knowledge lags behind almost all other realms of human endeavor. This species is a woodpecker, I presume? But she really was into dirt this day. Yes, a species of woodpecker. But they mostly eat ants and beetles which they dig up with their slightly curved bill.

06-10-2014, 01:22 AM - 2 Likes	#105
schnitzer79 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,248