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05-21-2015, 04:48 PM   #1
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Best bang for the buck long 300mm tele for Q?

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I have read the thread on the reach of the Q images and I think DA*300 paired with the Q is a match make in heaven.

However, a DA*300 is beyond my budget now. Which 300mm lens can I scout for on ebay that will work as well as the DA*300 and don't break my wallet?

I will be using the lens with a Pentax OEM converter.

Thanks

05-21-2015, 05:00 PM   #2
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What kind of budget?

The K300/4 is less than $300. The M* 300/4 is less than $600.
05-21-2015, 05:14 PM   #3
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Budget wise I would say around 300 mark....k300/4 is a good pair for the q?



A new da*300 is around aud1500 where I live
05-21-2015, 05:16 PM   #4
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Work *AS* well? You gotta pay for that. Since you'll be manually focusing anyway, if you are really targeting the Q series it could be an older manual lens, but the really good ones will still be several hundred at least. There is a used M 300/4 at B&H right now for $349, not a bad price. Haven't used it, some say it shows more aberrations than they like. You can also get one of the Tamron 300/2.8 adaptalls for $500-$700 depending on model and condition. (They tend to fringing, but are very sharp if you nail it.)

05-21-2015, 05:33 PM   #5
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M42, K, M and A series manual focus Pentax 300 f/4's are all very good for the money. The 400 f/5.6's aren't bad either.
05-21-2015, 05:41 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by raider Quote
I have read the thread on the reach of the Q images and I think DA*300 paired with the Q is a match make in heaven.

However, a DA*300 is beyond my budget now. Which 300mm lens can I scout for on ebay that will work as well as the DA*300 and don't break my wallet?

I will be using the lens with a Pentax OEM converter.

Thanks
I've been using a third-party adapter, but I don't think that would affect CA & sharpness comparisons between lenses.

I tried several older lenses, and every one showed noticeable CA - the only one I've used that hasn't shown noticeable CA is a new
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Autofocus
which is $179 at B&H. Unlike most newer lenses, this lens has an aperture ring, which gives you direct control over that; guys here have recommended not going any narrower than f/5.6, because small sensors like a Q-sensor start having diffraction issues much earlier than larger sensors. The real issue with adapted lenses is sharpness - you need a lot more resolution for a small 12MP sensor than for a larger one, and I've not yet found an inexpensive lens that provides as much sharpness as guys who are willing to spend more money have been able to get.
05-21-2015, 05:52 PM   #7
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I was recently shooting with the Q7 at f/11 with the 600*/5.6 and it looked pretty good -- the newer Qs with bigger sensors can use smaller apertures if the lens is sharp enough.

The non-Pentax adapter will definitely be less sharp if you haven't "matte blackened" the interior...

05-21-2015, 06:33 PM   #8
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Thanks guys for all the comments. I have a Q-S1 with 01, 02, 06 and 07 lenses by the way.

I was googling and there is a SMC M42 300mm F4 on ebay now....price not bad. will the M42 lens work with the Pentax Q OEM k mount converter? Do I just need to buy a M42 lens adaptor and that's it?
05-21-2015, 06:52 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by raider Quote
Thanks guys for all the comments. I have a Q-S1 with 01, 02, 06 and 07 lenses by the way.

I was googling and there is a SMC M42 300mm F4 on ebay now....price not bad. will the M42 lens work with the Pentax Q OEM k mount converter? Do I just need to buy a M42 lens adaptor and that's it?
Yeah you need an m42 adapter (one that allows infinity focus). (I found these were a nightmare on the Fotodiox Q adapter, but fine on the OEM Pentax adapter).
05-21-2015, 06:52 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by raider Quote
Thanks guys for all the comments. I have a Q-S1 with 01, 02, 06 and 07 lenses by the way.

I was googling and there is a SMC M42 300mm F4 on ebay now....price not bad. will the M42 lens work with the Pentax Q OEM k mount converter? Do I just need to buy a M42 lens adaptor and that's it?
I haven't tried this myself, but I expect that a m42-to-K adapter between the lens and your OEM K-to-Q is all that you would need.

I did a quick search on eBay and found a whole bunch of them:

m42 k-mount in "Camera Lens Adapters, Mounts, and Tubes" | eBay
05-21-2015, 07:07 PM   #11
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Consider a Tamron Adaptall SP 350mm mirror lens. Size and weight fits the Q's 'personality' and there's no CA. And also consider that LOTS of practice will be a big part of the price you pay for really good extreme telephoto images with ANY gear.

If you have patience, consider most any simple prime 135 - 200mm lens less than F/4.0 as necessary training wheels. Seriously, experience will be the biggest factor in your success and once you have that you'll know what you want and can afford.

Another interesting option is the Pentax 110 70mm lens with appropriate adapter. Relatively easy to hand-hold and inexpensive.

See the Q threads for adapted lenses.
05-21-2015, 09:35 PM   #12
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Thanks guys. I will go get the Pentax Q to K converter next week.

I have the Tamron 70-200 f2.8....don't know if this mate with the Q well but if it does, then I think I may be all set...otherwise I will get those old 300mm lenses from ebay.
05-22-2015, 12:04 AM   #13
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I would try your Tamron 70-200. In my experience the best results are achieved with high quality modern lens. Use aperture no smaller than f5.6 to avoid diffraction.
05-22-2015, 02:06 AM   #14
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Thanks Crewl but I don't think the Tamron 70-200 has an aperture ring come to think of it....do I just shoot wide open with the converter?
05-22-2015, 02:57 AM   #15
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Hi Raider,

As far as premium lenses go, I'd suggest a Canon FD 300mm f4 L as one of the best "bang for buck" 300mm primes. An FD2Q adapter can be gotten cheap, and it's possible to find a decent copy of the lens between $300-400 USD. I have one that was converted to K mount by a user. It was in "beater" cosmetic condition, as a previous owner had more than prominently scratched its initials on both the barrel and integrated hood, probably with a dull axe. . .I covered these with electrician's tape, and it actually looks good from a distance. . . in any case, I paid $225 for it IIRC, and have been impressed with the lens' performance. I have 2 FA* 300/4.5s and 1 each Tamron SP 300 f2.8 Adaptall 2, Sigma EX 300 f2.8 APO, and an FA* 300 f2.8, so I am familiar with most of the top end 300mm lenses in K mount. I find the FD 300/4L (maybe not so surprisingly) in the same league optically with the newer premium AF optics. It's sharp wide open (which you want with the Q) and MF is fine and precise. It controls CA/PF about as well as my FA* 300/4.5s. This is better optical performance than you will find in the K, M*, and A* versions of the 300/4 from Pentax at about the same price point or less. Some samples at https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/136-pentax-q/180716-my-new-long-lens-q.html#post1887982

An alternative, that might be more useful since you have Pentax DSLRs, is any of the DA 55-300 variants. For me, this is possibly the best compromise between optical performance and practicality (carry weight/size and convenience). The zoom capability makes spotting a lot easier than any of the 300mm primes. Optically, it's not up to the same standards as any of the premium primes, but it's not really that far behind. It's usable at both wide open and stopped down to f8 without losing too much to diffraction (which, in reality, isn't nearly as much of a problem as some may postulate). I have found this combo usable handheld with reasonable technique, using a magnifying loupe only to shoot sparrow sized subjects at 10-15 ft and diving birds like grebes and mergansers at much farther distances. Some examples at https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/136-pentax-q/204091-q-fw-v1-1-da-55-300-h...ml#post2156152 and https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/136-pentax-q/223850-q-da-55-300-pied-bill...ml#post2374943.

Personally, I own both an original DA 55-300 (with the metal mount) and a WR version, but the original is the one I usually use with the Q as it's zoom ring is considerably freer to rotate, so it's faster to use. I wouldn't shy away from the DA L version for use with the Q, but I'd get one of the aftermarket hoods for it since it does not come supplied with one.

Scott
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