Originally posted by jpzk Now, about this 150-450 lens: what's the score so far?
Positive? Negative? Neutral?
I for one am just a few bucks away from this lens and , frankly, think it is a winner for a zoom lens.
I have been posting my own experiences to a thread on DPReview, and I'm continuing to do so - it is "work in progress":
Machines & Animals & the 150-450mm lens
This isn't because of any anti-PentaxForums position, but it was more convenient given that I'm registered in both places, and I find the thread structure and photo-uploading easier there.
I'm not using that thread as a sort of gallery. I'm trying to make points about the lens that others will find useful. Good and bad. But there
are some photos there just because I like them:
Some photos of cars at Oulton Park So what do I think about the lens?
This is a sort of interim summary. I haven't tried it at an airshow, or where there are
really good bird in flight opportunities, although I have attempted some of the latter without much success. The starting point is that I have a K-3, DA* 60-250mm, DA* 300mm, and Pentax HD 1.4x Rear Converter. Also, I intend to get the FF camera later in the year. So this lens is intended to take the place
in some circumstances of those 2 lenses and the Converter. Can it?
I strive for high image quality, and this lens is sharp enough for me, even wide open. I'm not going to do
detailed comparisons with those two super DA* lens, but it isn't inferior in normal use, and I'm very impressed with it at 450mm. Apart from some early shots of a wall to see if it was de-centred, etc, I've hand-held it all the time.
I had problems where I was shooting cars on a track at 150mm and couldn't get all the car in. For that minority of shots, I needed the extra 60mm to 150mm range of the DA* 60-250mm lens. If the FF camera has a suitable burst rate, I will use that instead of the K-3 / K-3 II for those shots, and will probably be able to get the cars in at the closest distances I shoot at.
Throughout all my shooting so far, I have the sense that it is very fast indeed at focusing.
It simply appears to be able to do what the camera tells it to do. I think I'm limited by the K-3, (and myself!) not the lens. (I have pre-ordered the K-3 II, and that may make a difference).
As I said, I'm hand-holding it in real use. Since I want to use it at airshows, where hand-holding is what I always do, it has to be suitable for that. It is harder to pan, because of its weight and size. But after a thousand of shots in burst mode, I'm getting more comfortable with that. I will never be able to use it with the agility of the DA* 60-250mm lens, and I intend to keep that lens. It is hard to see that the DA* 300mm lens will get much use in future, with or without the HD 1.4x RC. (Except perhaps together with the HD 1.4x RC as a sort of "not quite macro" lens for easily-spooked small wildlife).
A point to note. It has internal focusing but not internal zooming. That can make hand-holding a bit tricky until you get used to it. For example, I kept wondering why it was set at 400mm sometime after I had set it to 450mm. I was holding it near the end and unknowingly pulling the end towards me! It can be forced to zoom by weight or pressure on the end. Probably not a good idea, and there is a lock for 150mm.
For interest, to help pay for it (and the D FA 70-200mm which I've pre-ordered) I sold my Sigma 500mm f/4.5. This new lens is
far better for
my purposes, and I'll never miss the Sigma.
The D FA 150-450mm lens "does what it says on the can". It meets the specifications, as far as I can tell. It is big, heavy, expensive, very sharp, and fast-focusing. I knew the downsides before I bought it, and the lens has met my expectations and on the whole satisfied my hopes.
Edit: I forgot to mention this. I doubt if I will
ever hand-hold this lens without using a battery grip on the camera. I tried it at home when it first arrived, and things were uncomfortable. With the battery grip, it feels more natural. I can get my little finger into play, grip tighter, and hold the camera better in portrait mode. Be warned!