560mm now available.

Adam · 02-09-2013, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by thibs

Yeah, I know but the TC might have different effects depending on the type of motor? Of course this is pure speculation...

Since all a TC would need to do is send power to the lens, I don't think it will matter at all. Hopefully Pentax's converter comes out this year!

Adam
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zapp · 02-14-2013, 01:16 PM

The lens is still very long for its focal length.
There is still no TC to bridge ... well what would it bridge? The gap between the non-existing large aperture medium tele photo lens or the extension of the 560 to an 800mm lens.

Still disappoiting.

I would prefer a typical 2.8/300 plus a 2x TC

RockvilleBob · 02-14-2013, 01:44 PM

I concur - a solid, fast focusing 300/2.8 and TC - I would probably like a 1.4 over 2 - would be preferred. I am thinking of buying a used pro Canon dslr and a used Canon 300/28 or 400/4 plus a 1.4 TC - all that will be cheaper than the 560 and focus faster for wildlife photography plus yield sharp results. That would give me two systems, a fine K-5 setup with several lenses plus a dedicated Canon long lens system for wildlife photography. I am very pleased with my K-5 but knowing what I know now about the lack of long focal length autofocus lenses for Pentax I would probably buy Canon or Nikon in hindsight. I will wait this year to see what Pentax does with TC's, pricing of the 560, and introducing a faster focusing body.

Greyser · 02-14-2013, 07:38 PM

Originally posted by RockvilleBob

I concur - a solid, fast focusing 300/2.8 and TC - I would probably like a 1.4 over 2 - would be preferred. I am thinking of buying a used pro Canon dslr and a used Canon 300/28 or 400/4 plus a 1.4 TC - all that will be cheaper than the 560 and focus faster for wildlife photography plus yield sharp results. That would give me two systems, a fine K-5 setup with several lenses plus a dedicated Canon long lens system for wildlife photography. I am very pleased with my K-5 but knowing what I know now about the lack of long focal length autofocus lenses for Pentax I would probably buy Canon or Nikon in hindsight. I will wait this year to see what Pentax does with TC's, pricing of the 560, and introducing a faster focusing body.

The Pentax F*FA*300/4.5 performs fine when paired with good 1.4x AF TC. I tried all of them and ended up with the Tamron 1.4x Pz-AF. The output is sharp and you still have some cropping luxury too. Regardless of its $1000 price tag, I believe, it is still cheaper than buying into new system.

However, for the fast moving targets, e.g. BIF, this combo hunts too much. And I prefer using bare FA*300 and cropping here.

At the same time there is noting even close to what long telephoto prime can deliver. It is always better (not as flexible though) than any 300mm + 1.7X TC.
Below is downsized original image, taken with Sigma 500/4.5 (PP was applied to my taste), and 713x713 pixels crop from it . Please judge for yourself.

RockvilleBob · 02-15-2013, 04:46 AM

That is a terrific picture - can you share how the picture was taken - camera? tripod? aperture and shutter speed? For BIF is the focus speed of the 500 adequate? Thanks. I enjoy BIF and rented the DA*300 which produced good results but not quite the reach needed. I bought the Sigma 150-500 which I am just starting to use but at 500 it is really too soft and cannot get the detail, I think around 350 to maybe 400 is fair. So in the next year or so I'll probably either add a longer lens - sigma 500 or Pentax 560 if the price really drops - or buy a used Canon system for wildlife and BIF. The Sigma 500 would be a better solution if focus is fairly quick. Thanks.

Greyser · 02-15-2013, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by RockvilleBob

That is a terrific picture - can you share how the picture was taken - camera? tripod? aperture and shutter speed? For BIF is the focus speed of the 500 adequate? Thanks. I enjoy BIF and rented the DA*300 which produced good results but not quite the reach needed. I bought the Sigma 150-500 which I am just starting to use but at 500 it is really too soft and cannot get the detail, I think around 350 to maybe 400 is fair. So in the next year or so I'll probably either add a longer lens - sigma 500 or Pentax 560 if the price really drops - or buy a used Canon system for wildlife and BIF. The Sigma 500 would be a better solution if focus is fairly quick. Thanks.

I had no intention to shoot ideally sharp image. It is not perfect at all for pixel peepers. There is a real life sample, taken with my 2+ years old K-5 handheld at f/6.3; 1/200 (!); SR on; ISO 400.
However, when I shoot BIF I try to keep the shutter speed at 1/800-1/1000 at least.

axl · 02-15-2013, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by RockvilleBob

... and introducing a faster focusing body.

I don't think it's so much the body as the lenses if we are talking single shot mode. FA*300/4.5 is as fast to AF as any USM lens I've tried. Same goes for FA*28-70 or FA*24 and other FA lenses. Problem is that from FA ltds onwards (with exception of DA ltds maybe), in other words the DA and DA* lenses seem to be geared very slow. I used Tokina 50-135 (SDM-less cousin of the DA*) on 1D3 and the AF was as slow as the DA* on K10D. On the other side the FA100/2.8 macro (with limiter on) or FA135/2.8 focus just as fast as EF100/2 USM be it on 7D or 1D3. I think Pentax's decision to allow good MF has consequnce in slower AF operation of lenses. And SDM doesn't seem a speed demon either..

My 2p

RockvilleBob · 02-16-2013, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by Adam

I lost the order number, but the PF review sample should be on its way if they've got the lens now!

Hi Adam
When reviewing the 500 from Sigma and the 560 Pentax can you pay particular attention to auto-focus speed? Thanks. I am looking to buy one of these, leaning to the Sigma 500 just on price, or buy a used Canon system if the next dslr Pentax camera doesn't greatly improve auto-focus performance.

goubejp · 02-16-2013, 04:32 AM

To compare... a 100 % crop of a greenfinch with the FA*600 + K5iis; 1/250, f8, tripod; looks better to me ?

Original picture before PP

JinDesu · 02-16-2013, 07:10 AM

That sharpness is a little ridiculous

Greyser · 02-16-2013, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by goubejp

To compare... a 100 % crop of a greenfinch with the FA*600 + K5iis; 1/250, f8, tripod; looks better to me ?

Looks really great. The only problem for me here is this beast is not hand holdable...

plainsman · 02-16-2013, 11:58 AM

I hope pentaxforums are able to test the capabilities of the 560/5.6 with the K-5IIs.

In APS-C format the best that Canon can offer is the 7D with AA filter and its (slightly) blurry images.

The 560/5.6 is of course lighter than the latest Canon 500/4 and a lot lighter than the 600/4.

So could have a lot going for it if they lower the price a bit and performance meets expectations.

How about some ISO 12233 crops as well.

goubejp · 02-16-2013, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by Greyser

Looks really great. The only problem for me here is this beast is not hand holdable...

Right, the challenge for Pentax is that
1 The DA 560 has at leats the same image quality, even at short distances, than the old FA600; note that the minimum focusing distance is slightly longer than the 600 (5.6 meters vs 5 meter) that is not a good point
2 The DA 560 has a price point competitive vs a Sigma 500 f4.5
3 The DA 560 with the announced 1,4 TC is able to maintain autofocus (the 600 is able to do it with a Sigma converter... but it is a F4 lens)
A 560 Hand-holdable is a plus but honestly to get best image quality you need either to use a tripod or as I do a rice bag to stabilize the lens; I often have to use low shutter speed cause many birds are active at sunrise or sunset; here is my favorite example, shot with the 600 at 1/60; don't try to use any long lens handheld at this speed :

I could buy this lens if the price goes under 4000 euros - it is sold 7000 euros so 9500 $ in europe !

zapp · 02-23-2013, 11:52 PM

Originally posted by goubejp

Right, the challenge for Pentax is that
1 The DA 560 has at leats the same image quality, even at short distances, than the old FA600; note that the minimum focusing distance is slightly longer than the 600 (5.6 meters vs 5 meter) that is not a good point
2 The DA 560 has a price point competitive vs a Sigma 500 f4.5
3 The DA 560 with the announced 1,4 TC is able to maintain autofocus (the 600 is able to do it with a Sigma converter... but it is a F4 lens)
A 560 Hand-holdable is a plus but honestly to get best image quality you need either to use a tripod or as I do a rice bag to stabilize the lens; I often have to use low shutter speed cause many birds are active at sunrise or sunset; here is my favorite example, shot with the 600 at 1/60; don't try to use any long lens handheld at this speed :

I could buy this lens if the price goes under 4000 euros - it is sold 7000 euros so 9500 $ in europe !

So your conclusion mentions that the 560 is not competible to the Sigma 500 regarding the price.
The shortest focus distance is also not competible to the Sigma.
There is no TC in Pentax land available.

I also like the images taken with the Pentax 4/600 but this lens is not availbale for years.

Kunzite · 02-24-2013, 01:54 AM

Under 4000 euros... wait, what? You're asking for the MRSP in Europe (which includes VAT and other taxes) to match the street price (without state tax) in US of a 7 year old 3rd-party lens? Or to be under the street price of said 7-year old 3rd-party lens in Europe?
The Sigma's MSRP was about 6000, by the way. We might not like nor be able to afford it, but 1000 more for the Pentax is not unreasonable.

02-14-2013, 01:16 PM	#47
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	The lens is still very long for its focal length. There is still no TC to bridge ... well what would it bridge? The gap between the non-existing large aperture medium tele photo lens or the extension of the 560 to an 800mm lens. Still disappoiting. I would prefer a typical 2.8/300 plus a 2x TC Last edited by zapp; 02-14-2013 at 01:33 PM.

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02-09-2013, 01:43 PM	#46
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by thibs Yeah, I know but the TC might have different effects depending on the type of motor? Of course this is pure speculation... Since all a TC would need to do is send power to the lens, I don't think it will matter at all. Hopefully Pentax's converter comes out this year! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

02-14-2013, 01:44 PM	#48
RockvilleBob Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Lewes DE USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,780	I concur - a solid, fast focusing 300/2.8 and TC - I would probably like a 1.4 over 2 - would be preferred. I am thinking of buying a used pro Canon dslr and a used Canon 300/28 or 400/4 plus a 1.4 TC - all that will be cheaper than the 560 and focus faster for wildlife photography plus yield sharp results. That would give me two systems, a fine K-5 setup with several lenses plus a dedicated Canon long lens system for wildlife photography. I am very pleased with my K-5 but knowing what I know now about the lack of long focal length autofocus lenses for Pentax I would probably buy Canon or Nikon in hindsight. I will wait this year to see what Pentax does with TC's, pricing of the 560, and introducing a faster focusing body.

02-14-2013, 07:38 PM	#49
Greyser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,150	Originally posted by RockvilleBob I concur - a solid, fast focusing 300/2.8 and TC - I would probably like a 1.4 over 2 - would be preferred. I am thinking of buying a used pro Canon dslr and a used Canon 300/28 or 400/4 plus a 1.4 TC - all that will be cheaper than the 560 and focus faster for wildlife photography plus yield sharp results. That would give me two systems, a fine K-5 setup with several lenses plus a dedicated Canon long lens system for wildlife photography. I am very pleased with my K-5 but knowing what I know now about the lack of long focal length autofocus lenses for Pentax I would probably buy Canon or Nikon in hindsight. I will wait this year to see what Pentax does with TC's, pricing of the 560, and introducing a faster focusing body. The Pentax FFA300/4.5 performs fine when paired with good 1.4x AF TC. I tried all of them and ended up with the Tamron 1.4x Pz-AF. The output is sharp and you still have some cropping luxury too. Regardless of its $1000 price tag, I believe, it is still cheaper than buying into new system. However, for the fast moving targets, e.g. BIF, this combo hunts too much. And I prefer using bare FA*300 and cropping here. At the same time there is noting even close to what long telephoto prime can deliver. It is always better (not as flexible though) than any 300mm + 1.7X TC. Below is downsized original image, taken with Sigma 500/4.5 (PP was applied to my taste), and 713x713 pixels crop from it . Please judge for yourself.

02-15-2013, 04:46 AM	#50
RockvilleBob Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Lewes DE USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,780	That is a terrific picture - can you share how the picture was taken - camera? tripod? aperture and shutter speed? For BIF is the focus speed of the 500 adequate? Thanks. I enjoy BIF and rented the DA*300 which produced good results but not quite the reach needed. I bought the Sigma 150-500 which I am just starting to use but at 500 it is really too soft and cannot get the detail, I think around 350 to maybe 400 is fair. So in the next year or so I'll probably either add a longer lens - sigma 500 or Pentax 560 if the price really drops - or buy a used Canon system for wildlife and BIF. The Sigma 500 would be a better solution if focus is fairly quick. Thanks.

02-15-2013, 09:18 AM	#51
Greyser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,150	Originally posted by RockvilleBob That is a terrific picture - can you share how the picture was taken - camera? tripod? aperture and shutter speed? For BIF is the focus speed of the 500 adequate? Thanks. I enjoy BIF and rented the DA*300 which produced good results but not quite the reach needed. I bought the Sigma 150-500 which I am just starting to use but at 500 it is really too soft and cannot get the detail, I think around 350 to maybe 400 is fair. So in the next year or so I'll probably either add a longer lens - sigma 500 or Pentax 560 if the price really drops - or buy a used Canon system for wildlife and BIF. The Sigma 500 would be a better solution if focus is fairly quick. Thanks. I had no intention to shoot ideally sharp image. It is not perfect at all for pixel peepers. There is a real life sample, taken with my 2+ years old K-5 handheld at f/6.3; 1/200 (!); SR on; ISO 400. However, when I shoot BIF I try to keep the shutter speed at 1/800-1/1000 at least.

02-15-2013, 12:18 PM	#52
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by RockvilleBob ... and introducing a faster focusing body. I don't think it's so much the body as the lenses if we are talking single shot mode. FA300/4.5 is as fast to AF as any USM lens I've tried. Same goes for FA28-70 or FA24 and other FA lenses. Problem is that from FA ltds onwards (with exception of DA ltds maybe), in other words the DA and DA lenses seem to be geared very slow. I used Tokina 50-135 (SDM-less cousin of the DA) on 1D3 and the AF was as slow as the DA on K10D. On the other side the FA100/2.8 macro (with limiter on) or FA135/2.8 focus just as fast as EF100/2 USM be it on 7D or 1D3. I think Pentax's decision to allow good MF has consequnce in slower AF operation of lenses. And SDM doesn't seem a speed demon either.. My 2p

02-16-2013, 03:44 AM	#53
RockvilleBob Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Lewes DE USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,780	Originally posted by Adam I lost the order number, but the PF review sample should be on its way if they've got the lens now! Hi Adam When reviewing the 500 from Sigma and the 560 Pentax can you pay particular attention to auto-focus speed? Thanks. I am looking to buy one of these, leaning to the Sigma 500 just on price, or buy a used Canon system if the next dslr Pentax camera doesn't greatly improve auto-focus performance.

02-16-2013, 04:32 AM	#54
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	To compare... a 100 % crop of a greenfinch with the FA*600 + K5iis; 1/250, f8, tripod; looks better to me ? Original picture before PP

02-16-2013, 07:10 AM	#55
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	That sharpness is a little ridiculous

02-16-2013, 09:22 AM	#56
Greyser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,150	Originally posted by goubejp To compare... a 100 % crop of a greenfinch with the FA*600 + K5iis; 1/250, f8, tripod; looks better to me ? Looks really great. The only problem for me here is this beast is not hand holdable...

02-16-2013, 11:58 AM	#57
plainsman New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 7	I hope pentaxforums are able to test the capabilities of the 560/5.6 with the K-5IIs. In APS-C format the best that Canon can offer is the 7D with AA filter and its (slightly) blurry images. The 560/5.6 is of course lighter than the latest Canon 500/4 and a lot lighter than the 600/4. So could have a lot going for it if they lower the price a bit and performance meets expectations. How about some ISO 12233 crops as well.

02-16-2013, 04:13 PM	#58
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	Originally posted by Greyser Looks really great. The only problem for me here is this beast is not hand holdable... Right, the challenge for Pentax is that 1 The DA 560 has at leats the same image quality, even at short distances, than the old FA600; note that the minimum focusing distance is slightly longer than the 600 (5.6 meters vs 5 meter) that is not a good point 2 The DA 560 has a price point competitive vs a Sigma 500 f4.5 3 The DA 560 with the announced 1,4 TC is able to maintain autofocus (the 600 is able to do it with a Sigma converter... but it is a F4 lens) A 560 Hand-holdable is a plus but honestly to get best image quality you need either to use a tripod or as I do a rice bag to stabilize the lens; I often have to use low shutter speed cause many birds are active at sunrise or sunset; here is my favorite example, shot with the 600 at 1/60; don't try to use any long lens handheld at this speed : I could buy this lens if the price goes under 4000 euros - it is sold 7000 euros so 9500 $ in europe !

02-23-2013, 11:52 PM	#59
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	Originally posted by goubejp Right, the challenge for Pentax is that 1 The DA 560 has at leats the same image quality, even at short distances, than the old FA600; note that the minimum focusing distance is slightly longer than the 600 (5.6 meters vs 5 meter) that is not a good point 2 The DA 560 has a price point competitive vs a Sigma 500 f4.5 3 The DA 560 with the announced 1,4 TC is able to maintain autofocus (the 600 is able to do it with a Sigma converter... but it is a F4 lens) A 560 Hand-holdable is a plus but honestly to get best image quality you need either to use a tripod or as I do a rice bag to stabilize the lens; I often have to use low shutter speed cause many birds are active at sunrise or sunset; here is my favorite example, shot with the 600 at 1/60; don't try to use any long lens handheld at this speed : I could buy this lens if the price goes under 4000 euros - it is sold 7000 euros so 9500 $ in europe ! So your conclusion mentions that the 560 is not competible to the Sigma 500 regarding the price. The shortest focus distance is also not competible to the Sigma. There is no TC in Pentax land available. I also like the images taken with the Pentax 4/600 but this lens is not availbale for years.

02-24-2013, 01:54 AM	#60
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Under 4000 euros... wait, what? You're asking for the MRSP in Europe (which includes VAT and other taxes) to match the street price (without state tax) in US of a 7 year old 3rd-party lens? Or to be under the street price of said 7-year old 3rd-party lens in Europe? The Sigma's MSRP was about 6000, by the way. We might not like nor be able to afford it, but 1000 more for the Pentax is not unreasonable.