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02-15-2015, 02:57 AM   #151
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QuoteOriginally posted by JPT Quote
Having handled these lenses briefly, they are truly massive and very well built. DPR just posted some pictures and impressions from CP+.
CP+ 2015: Ricoh gets serious with new Pentax full-frame zooms: Digital Photography Review
When you get your hands on one of these, you'll wonder whether to mount it to a camera or dock it to a space station.
I've pre-ordered those 2 lenses. In order to afford this, I'm part-exchanging my Sigma 500mm f/4.5 APO EX DG, which weight 3 kilograms and was too heavy for me, except on a gimble.

I am worried that the new lenses will also be too heavy! I'm happy with the DA* 60-250mm f/4, which weights 1 kilogram. But what will it be like hand-holding the 2 kilogram D-FA 150-450mm for hours at an airshow? I guess I'll find out during June!

QuoteOriginally posted by rawr Quote
If they perform well, and are built tough for many years of reliable use, few will be-grudge them their weight or size.
I will begrudge that! But I am simply going to have to bite my lip and put up with it.

02-15-2015, 03:42 AM   #152
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QuoteOriginally posted by Barry Pearson Quote
I'm part-exchanging my Sigma 500mm f/4.5 APO EX DG, which weight 3 kilograms and was too heavy for me, except on a gimble.
I use a Nikon D4s with a Nikkor 400mm f/2.8G ED VR - that combination weighs significantly more than 3Kg, and I don't have a problem with hand holding for short periods of time. Monopods go a long way to reduce fatigue and shoulder strain when using heavy lenses.

QuoteOriginally posted by Barry Pearson Quote
I am worried that the new lenses will also be too heavy! I'm happy with the DA* 60-250mm f/4, which weights 1 kilogram. But what will it be like hand-holding the 2 kilogram D-FA 150-450mm for hours at an airshow? I guess I'll find out during June!
I seriously suggest you look into getting a monopod. A head like the Krik King cobra on a carbon fibre monopod would be an effective combination with such a long lens.
02-15-2015, 06:13 AM   #153
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For aps-c sensor DFA 150-450 is a super telephoto lens, like a second coming of the FA* 250-600. People just not appreciate how much cheaper is now to work with telephoto. Even with no fullframe this lens should have a niche in the market.
02-15-2015, 07:12 AM   #154
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QuoteOriginally posted by pacu Quote
For aps-c sensor DFA 150-450 is a super telephoto lens, like a second coming of the FA* 250-600.
These two lenses are very different beasts. The FA* 250-600mm f/5.6 ED [IF] is an amazing lens, I'm not sure if the D-FA150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW can topple it.

02-15-2015, 07:45 AM   #155
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QuoteOriginally posted by Asahiflex Quote
Actually I'm 99% sure those two lenses have ED glass in them. As a proof I have copies of the original Dutch Pentax price lists from that era listing them as SMC Pentax-M* and A* 300mm F4 ED!
Thanks. I thought so as well, but when I checked the Dimitrov site, I couldn't confirm that they did. I need to dig through some of my references.
02-15-2015, 08:32 AM   #156
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QuoteOriginally posted by Digitalis Quote
These two lenses are very different beasts. The FA* 250-600mm f/5.6 ED [IF] is an amazing lens, I'm not sure if the D-FA150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW can topple it.
Today's expectations are far higher than in the film days, pixel peepers don't need a microscope like the good old days... For example the old nikon 80-400 d with film was something like a pentax da 55-300 with a modern sensor in end photograph quality. When the new nikon 80-400 g came, designed for today's high resolution sensors, the price doubled. I am sure you can achive the same equality you had in the 90s with a FA* 250-600mm f/5.6 ED [IF] with a D-FA150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW today thanks to digital sensors. If a equaivalent focal length of 675mm can't help you then probably nothing will. The atmosphere frequently becomes a limitting factor as the narrow field of view.

Last edited by pacu; 02-15-2015 at 08:38 AM.
02-15-2015, 08:48 AM   #157
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QuoteOriginally posted by Digitalis Quote
I use a Nikon D4s with a Nikkor 400mm f/2.8G ED VR - that combination weighs significantly more than 3Kg, and I don't have a problem with hand holding for short periods of time. Monopods go a long way to reduce fatigue and shoulder strain when using heavy lenses.
I seriously suggest you look into getting a monopod. A head like the Krik King cobra on a carbon fibre monopod would be an effective combination with such a long lens.
I've tried various things at airshows. I have a good monopod. I have a useful gimbal head. They simply don't give me the all round flexibility I need, for example shooting pretty well straight up. Ditto for birds in flight.

I find a gimbal useful for some positions at motor sports. Motor bikes and cars rarely fly overhead! Unfortunately, when they (nearly) do so, hand-held is best!

02-15-2015, 05:46 PM   #158
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QuoteOriginally posted by pacu Quote
I am sure you can achive the same equality you had in the 90s with a FA* 250-600mm f/5.6 ED [IF] with a D-FA150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW today thanks to digital sensors.
Digital sensors cannot change the laws of physics - the optics of the FA*250-600mm f/5.6 are absolutely first rate, pretty much as good as a prime when stopped down to f/8. Will the D-FA150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, a variable aperture zoom be able to match it? possibly.
02-15-2015, 09:29 PM   #159
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QuoteOriginally posted by pacu Quote
Today's expectations are far higher than in the film days, pixel peepers don't need a microscope like the good old days... For example the old nikon 80-400 d with film was something like a pentax da 55-300 with a modern sensor in end photograph quality. When the new nikon 80-400 g came, designed for today's high resolution sensors, the price doubled. I am sure you can achive the same equality you had in the 90s with a FA* 250-600mm f/5.6 ED [IF] with a D-FA150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW today thanks to digital sensors. If a equaivalent focal length of 675mm can't help you then probably nothing will. The atmosphere frequently becomes a limitting factor as the narrow field of view.
Well, for one thing, it is going to be a whopping 150mm shorter in focal length. I am not convinced that the HD coating is going to be any better than the coatings used on that FA*.
02-16-2015, 12:27 AM   #160
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QuoteOriginally posted by Digitalis Quote
Digital sensors cannot change the laws of physics - the optics of the FA*250-600mm f/5.6 are absolutely first rate, pretty much as good as a prime when stopped down to f/8. Will the D-FA150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, a variable aperture zoom be able to match it? possibly.
Actually, F*250-600/5.6 is at its best at f/5.6. Diffraction is limiting at smaller apertures. I tested F*250-600/5.6 against DA*300/4 and the zoom was better at f/5.6 than the prime at f/5.6
02-16-2015, 01:00 AM   #161
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QuoteOriginally posted by StigVidar Quote
I tested F*250-600/5.6 against DA*300/4 and the zoom was better at f/5.6 than the prime at f/5.6
I tested the FA*250-600mm f/5.6 ED [IF] On full frame against the Pentax FA*300mm f/2.8 ED [IF] and A*400mm f/2.8 - on my testing bench* the Primes held an edge over the zoom, due to their inherently wider initial apertures but at f/8 all three lenses delivered essentially identical performance.

*Testing long 35mm lenses on an optics bench is a nightmare, the tiniest mis-focus can reduce resolution from a lens by 40%. I had one hell of a time comparing the Nikkor 400mm f/2.8 with a 2X teleconverter against the Nikkor AF-S 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR.
02-16-2015, 03:42 AM - 1 Like   #162
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I tested my FA* 250-600mm at f5.8 and f8 .... I have to say that the results at all apertures were pretty bad.

Although now I think about it maybe it was because I was trying to shoot a 7kg combination handheld
02-16-2015, 04:17 AM - 2 Likes   #163
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This is an image og Jupiter and four of its moons. Shows how much cropping you can do on images taken with F*250-600/5.6. Taken with Q7 and cropped.

02-16-2015, 07:23 AM - 1 Like   #164
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QuoteOriginally posted by StigVidar Quote
This is an image og Jupiter and four of its moons. Shows how much cropping you can do on images taken with F*250-600/5.6. Taken with Q7 and cropped.
Looks blurry to me. To make it sharper next time, please use this technique:
02-16-2015, 07:07 PM - 1 Like   #165
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QuoteOriginally posted by StigVidar Quote
This is an image og Jupiter and four of its moons. Shows how much cropping you can do on images taken with F*250-600/5.6. Taken with Q7 and cropped.
Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and others would be amazed!
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