Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Closed Thread
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
02-20-2017, 02:52 PM   #1396
Site Supporter
Kath's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 737
QuoteOriginally posted by siva.ss.kumar Quote
Looking good shot with 150-450.
After many years with my Sigma 50-500, I am thinking to upgrade (Bigma still works great).
So, which one would you suggest (DA300 with 1.4xTC or 150-450). I shoot mostly birds. And small ones at that. Thanks.

-Siva
I think the answer to this lies mostly in another question: how often are you shooting birds at close range (i.e., from 150-250)? If the answer is "a lot", then maybe the 150-450 is for you. If "not so much", then I recommend the prime.

Here's why: The image quality of the DA*300 is widely accepted as superb and I can confirm that fact. Zzeitg's gorgeous photos on this forum are a great example. Paired with the 1.4 TC, it is uncommonly terrific. The image quality of the150-450 has many proponents as well.

But I have found that carrying more FL variability than I need is nothing but a drain on me. There are times when it's appropriate, as you've found with the Bigma, but the 300 is a beautiful little lens for so much reach, and the TC adds just the smallest bit of length. I have two of the Sigma 150-500s and use them often, but their images can't begin to compete with the 300. Likely you've also discovered that, thus your desire to upgrade.

I got tired of lugging around - and holding up - heavy lenses when I want to be on a lightweight outing. Are there times when I have the prime on and find I'm too close? Once in a blue moon, yes. So much more often, especially with smaller subjects, I find I need all of the 420 I can get. 450 would be nice but, for me, not at the expense of weight.

02-20-2017, 03:11 PM - 1 Like   #1397
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
RobG's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Canberra
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 8,831
QuoteOriginally posted by GlassJunkie Quote
I have become very pleased with the 150-450. Albeit a bit heavy, it is not unmanageably so, and when hand held, it does take out some wobble like a "bull" barrel on a target handgun. With some birds in flight, the zoom helps since the little gems often enough come in my direction, and face shots are a premium. The 300 F4 DA* and the 1.4 HDTC is a good combo, have it available, but the 150-400 appeared to outperform it (see my lens test of 2015).
I've been toying with the price of the 150-450 for some time. I tried one briefly in Tokyo in the Ricoh showroom (formerly the Pentax Forum), and it seemed to focus quickly and positively without hunting. I have the DA*300 and 1.4x TC, and the lack of a focus limiter means that I often lose shots because the lens decides to hunt. For some reason, the DA*300 seems to focus short a lot faster than it focuses long. The combination of the DA*300 and TC is lighter and more compact than the 150-450, but the presence of a focus limiter on the 150-450 makes me feel that it would be a less frustrating lens with respect to focus. In terms of focal length, 450mm vs 420mm probably doesn't make a lot of difference.
02-20-2017, 05:34 PM   #1398
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
GlassJunkie's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: St Petersburg
Photos: Albums
Posts: 402
Yes, and I went to the 150-450 more for crossover between 150-250 than the 60-250

QuoteOriginally posted by RobG Quote
I've been toying with the price of the 150-450 for some time. I tried one briefly in Tokyo in the Ricoh showroom (formerly the Pentax Forum), and it seemed to focus quickly and positively without hunting. I have the DA*300 and 1.4x TC, and the lack of a focus limiter means that I often lose shots because the lens decides to hunt. For some reason, the DA*300 seems to focus short a lot faster than it focuses long. The combination of the DA*300 and TC is lighter and more compact than the 150-450, but the presence of a focus limiter on the 150-450 makes me feel that it would be a less frustrating lens with respect to focus. In terms of focal length, 450mm vs 420mm probably doesn't make a lot of difference.
My findings are the same as yours. My recent bird post was the 150-450 at 50 yards... Outstanding
02-20-2017, 05:40 PM - 1 Like   #1399
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
RobG's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Canberra
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 8,831
QuoteOriginally posted by GlassJunkie Quote
My findings are the same as yours. My recent bird post was the 150-450 at 50 yards... Outstanding
Thanks! I just checked the photo again. Great action shot! I wish Pentax would make an updated DA*300 with improved SDM motor and a focus limiter.

02-20-2017, 09:23 PM   #1400
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
GlassJunkie's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: St Petersburg
Photos: Albums
Posts: 402
Yup... And just to be difficult....

QuoteOriginally posted by RobG Quote
Thanks! I just checked the photo again. Great action shot! I wish Pentax would make an updated DA*300 with improved SDM motor and a focus limiter.
Add F2.8 in a carbon fibre chassis... I'm in for that one...
02-20-2017, 10:57 PM - 2 Likes   #1401
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
RobG's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Canberra
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 8,831
QuoteOriginally posted by GlassJunkie Quote
Add F2.8 in a carbon fibre chassis... I'm in for that one...
Which would be amazing but completely unaffordable. I'm just talking about fitting improved motors like the ones they already have in the 150-450 to improve the speed, and focus limiting to reduce the damage of hunting. Optically, the DA*300 is amazing and I can live with f4.0 because it makes the dimensions and weight of the lens bearable. Faster focus and focus limiting would be two small changes that would make an optically brilliant lens much more usable.
02-23-2017, 11:02 PM - 2 Likes   #1402
Veteran Member




Join Date: Oct 2013
Photos: Albums
Posts: 324
QuoteOriginally posted by GlassJunkie Quote
Add F2.8 in a carbon fibre chassis... I'm in for that one...
2018 maybe,but more metal body than fiber.
Best regards

02-23-2017, 11:19 PM   #1403
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Australia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,842
yes, way to go, go fully metal man
02-24-2017, 02:19 AM   #1404
Pentaxian




Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 346
QuoteOriginally posted by asahi man Quote
2018 maybe,but more metal body than fiber.
Best regards
Mmh, so 2018 for long lens(es)? I'd be very happy, but it would mean that they manage to release the 6 (!!!) lenses already on the roadmap, which seems a bit unlikely to me.

EDIT: you also said this:

QuoteOriginally posted by asahi man Quote
Nope,only on paper.
The 50 is currently in production for a little preseries and will go in full production next time.
You can make you a nice Christmas present.
The 85 is still in prototype condition.
With very much luck we will see it as preseries end of this year.
Maybe faster,but no more real information this time.
But it's a complete new optical construction,like the new 50.
More glass inside,more lens elements,much more quality than every 50 and 85 in Pentax history.
Same optical grade like the *2.8 70-200.
Newest glass types and coatings.
The bigger sizes are the results of the higher quality to be in the line with the current sensors and with the future.
Best regards
I'm a bit lost

Last edited by timautin; 02-24-2017 at 02:33 AM.
02-26-2017, 01:37 PM   #1405
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
GlassJunkie's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: St Petersburg
Photos: Albums
Posts: 402
Thanks, by the way...

QuoteOriginally posted by asahi man Quote
2018 maybe,but more metal body than fiber.
Best regards
Any idea on the pixel density possible in the next APSc Flagship? I figure 28mp Samsung is the lowest likely?
04-26-2017, 07:50 AM   #1406
Veteran Member
UserAccessDenied's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Maryland
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,677
So I currently shoot with DA*300 + HD1.4xTC.
I'm looking at the DFA150-450 as a replacement...

Has it been confirmed that the zoom locking issue at ~180mm is an early production issue that was resolved? Or is this still a known problem with this lens?

I'd rather not go down that road if the issue hasn't been resolved by Ricoh yet...

Any resources to confirm or deny?
06-09-2017, 06:32 AM   #1407
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Genf
Posts: 1,138
QuoteOriginally posted by UserAccessDenied Quote
So I currently shoot with DA*300 + HD1.4xTC.
I'm looking at the DFA150-450 as a replacement...

Has it been confirmed that the zoom locking issue at ~180mm is an early production issue that was resolved? Or is this still a known problem with this lens?

I'd rather not go down that road if the issue hasn't been resolved by Ricoh yet...

Any resources to confirm or deny?
I bought an early production from september 2015, less than one year after I had the zoom issue at 180 mm.
Lens was replaced in November 2016 by a brand new one, I did not notice any zoom lock but I dont use it a lot either.
06-09-2017, 06:40 AM - 1 Like   #1408
Pentaxian
Franc's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hoevelaken
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,211
I have an early one and i'm having no problems at all.Is my most used lens.
06-09-2017, 06:43 AM   #1409
Pentaxian
redpit's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Greece
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,857
QuoteOriginally posted by Franc Quote
I have an early one and i'm having no problems at all.Is my most used lens.
Same here!
06-09-2017, 07:57 AM   #1410
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 417
And here.
Closed Thread

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
1.4x, 150-450mm, af, barrel, bigma, crop, da*300, dc, focus, grass, hd, image quality, iq, kg, lens, lots, mm, motor, pentax, pentax news, pentax rumors, pentax-d fa 150-450mm, position, price, shots, tc, thread, tripod, wr
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6ED DC WR samples flomat Lens Sample Photo Archive 55 10-21-2021 03:00 PM
HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6ED DC WR Adam Pentax News and Rumors 917 03-13-2015 12:59 PM
Three-part review of HD Pentax 16-85mm F3.5-5.6ED DC WR (Japanese) odyseuss Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 94 12-01-2014 10:44 AM
First Look Video: HD PENTAX DA 645 28-45mm F4.5 ED AW SR Thomasbrowphoto Pentax Medium Format 10 08-06-2014 06:37 PM
HD PENTAX DA 645 28-45mm F4.5 ED AW SR Lens Review i83N Pentax News and Rumors 2 08-04-2014 07:38 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:47 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top