[DavidSKAF3]

Geez! These are some amazing and very beautiful photos! Wow!

[DogLover]

And that`s probably what Doglover reffers to, after a certain point every increase in IQ will be harder and will cost exponentially more to achieve.

Exactly.

[jayman_1975]

Figured i would revive this thread a bit

[DavidSKAF3]

Nice photo! That is one healthy, happy-looking dog! Just wondering, would a polarizer or ND4 filters keep the snow from blowing out?


Interesting to note I mentioned I bought a DA L 55-300 in an earlier post in this very same thread, and I loved it so much that I wanted to upgrade from the basic version. And so just this week I sprung at the chance to get the new DA HD 55-300 ED WR for just $210 brand new in the box from some dissatisfied guy on eBay who was dumping his whole basically unused Pentax K-50 kit for a Nikon! Seemed like a real deal. (The lens I mean)


I'm really looking forward to using a 55-300 that has the Quick Shift feature!


I think I've seen one Sigma 100-300 f/4 for sale this entire time, and it wasn't a good time for me to splurge at that moment so I missed out on it.


Here are two K-3 + smc DA L 55-300 "airliner" shots with sharpness that pleased me. Nowhere near as good or interesting as your guys' stuff but hey, you know, I try in my own way!

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Last edited by DavidSKAF3; 03-02-2015 at 06:15 PM.

[jayman_1975]

Nice photo! That is one healthy, happy-looking dog! Just wondering, would a polarizer or ND4 filters keep the snow from blowing out?


Interesting to note I mentioned I bought a DA L 55-300 in an earlier post in this very same thread, and I loved it so much I sprung at the chance to get the new DA HD 55-300 ED WR for just $250. I'm really looking forward to using a 55-300 with Quick Shift.


I think I've seen one Sigma 100-300 f/4 for sale this entire time, and it wasn't a good time for me to splurge at that moment so I missed out on it.


Here's are some K-3+DA L 55-300 airplane shots with sharpness that pleased me.

I have never tried a ND filter, I should invest in one. That shot was very hard to get. I threw a ton out whether it be out of focus or way overblown or a combination of both. The sun was wicked bright that day and i was shooting towards it.

Those are some sweet shots. I had a 55-300 WR for awhile and got some great shots with it but was just wanting that next level of sharpess and AF speed.

[DavidSKAF3]

Do you have any experience with older Pentax zoom lenses like the FA 80-320 or F 100-300?

[mherger]

Do you have any experience with older Pentax zoom lenses like the FA 80-320 or F 100-300?

I'm reading all raving reviews about the Sigma f4/100-300 here, but am a bit disappointed myself. I'm wondering whether I've got something to repair to take full advantage of its potential.

Today I've had the opportunity to test run the Sigma 100-300, its 150-500 big brother, and the Pentax DA 55-300 on my K3.

While the 100-300 is doing a great job in near distance (<10-15m), it just doesn't focus correctly in longer distances. Focusing manually does prove me it's not the optics, but the AF. I can use it at f4 with excellent results. But AF is rather unusable. Did anyone have similar experience? Would it be worth sending it for a service? A few weeks back I sent in my 2.8/50-150. They sent it over to Japan without any notice. It's said to take at least 12 weeks to return...

The 150-500 is a big, heavy beast. As somebody else mentioned its HSM focussing is silent, but rather slow (compared to both other lenses!). When it was hunting from minimum to max I sometimes wondered whether it was even working at all. It was so slow I was lacking any instant visual or audible feedback.

The 55-300 might be what I'll be keeping for a forthcoming trip, when size/weight matters.

As for the FA 80-320 mentioned in the previous posting: I did have it from the analog days. Back then I liked it for the same reason as I'll most likely keep the 55-300: rather light, compact and ok IQ. But I didn't like it on my digital camera (K10). AF was slow, and results never really crisp.

[Digitalis]

While the 100-300 is doing a great job in near distance (<10-15m), it just doesn't focus correctly in longer distances. Focusing manually does prove me it's not the optics, but the AF. I can use it at f4 with excellent results. But AF is rather unusable. Did anyone have similar experience? Would it be worth sending it for a service?

I can't say I have had any issues at long distance focusing, most of my issues with AF accuracy occur at closer focus distances. However, it depends on the camera you are using K10>K5II(s) cameras have larger AF points and this can cause misfocusing with this lens. My copy does hunt from time to time at the 300mm end, but its AF is very fast, noisy but fast. I would send it to my local repairer as Sigma has discontinued this lens for some time and I doubt they would still service it.




Pentax K5IIs - Sigma 100-300mm f/4 APO EX DG.

[mherger]

In the mean time I've found a thread discussing my very problem: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/288879-sigm...s-problem.html. And unfortunately I'm an owner of the 1st generation of that lens. Which probably means there's no solution for this problem...

[DogLover]

I haven't had any issues with the AF on mine, but mine's not a 1st-gen. It's always been quite accurate and fast through several bodies now. Any chance doing a micro-adjust in your K-3 might help? Is it consistently a bf or ff issue?

[jayman_1975]

Does ok for sunsets too!

[jayman_1975]

Focus was just a tad off on his head but for anyone who knows how fast these suckers move you will appreciate how good this lens did on this shot. Taken with 1.4X TC added on.

[dadipentak]

Focus was just a tad off on his head but for anyone who knows how fast these suckers move you will appreciate how good this lens did on this shot.

A triumphant success, imho ;~)

[jayman_1975]

Taken handheld with 1.4X TC

[mherger]

Focus was just a tad off on his head but for anyone who knows how fast these suckers move you will appreciate how good this lens did on this shot. Taken with 1.4X TC added on.

Which TC are you using?