pentax 55-300 PLM: best in class for Digital Camera Magazine

**Pål Jensen** · 06-23-2018, 12:57 PM

...and that is the K3 and not the K3II?

swanlefitte · 06-23-2018, 01:20 PM

Perhaps from the source will help.
Latest K-3 Firmware Update : Software Downloads | RICOH IMAGING

**Pål Jensen** · 06-23-2018, 01:27 PM

Wow! Finally i can buy this lens. Seems to be terriffic in an incredibly compact packgage...

**Larrymc** · 06-23-2018, 01:35 PM - **2 Likes**

Taken with my 55-300PLM and K-3. I'm not sure what I'm seeing here, motion blur or back focus.........what do y'all think??

Wary Great Blue Heron! by Larry Mc, on Flickr

swanlefitte · 06-23-2018, 02:21 PM - **2 Likes**

I would guess back focus based on the ripples. I get this with back button focus when i don't let it up and shake a little. Focus finds new target before the shuttle clicks. When i am not shakey it helps but any jitters and i need to let the button go.
Still a nice photo at a small size. Not a scene you see to often.

LensBeginner · 06-23-2018, 03:52 PM

+1 what @swanlefitte said.
Blur is uniform on the whole heron, if it was motion-induced it would have probably been mostly on a part of the animal.
Plus, the ripples are in focus and they are well behind the bird.
Nice pic though.

**Larrymc** · 06-23-2018, 06:53 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

+1 what @swanlefitte said.
Blur is uniform on the whole heron, if it was motion-induced it would have probably been mostly on a part of the animal.
Plus, the ripples are in focus and they are well behind the bird.
Nice pic though.

Thanks Guys,

For some strange reason I had a -1 dialed into my AF fine adjustment. It was supposed to be +-0. Actually when I took a few test shots the fine tune actually worked out to be a +1 but that's so close to the +-0 its almost not noticeable.

Larry

---------- Post added 06-23-18 at 08:56 PM ----------

Originally posted by swanlefitte

I would guess back focus based on the ripples. I get this with back button focus when i don't let it up and shake a little. Focus finds new target before the shuttle clicks. When i am not shakey it helps but any jitters and i need to let the button go.
Still a nice photo at a small size. Not a scene you see to often.

I was in AF-C so that may have been a contributor also in addition I ended up in an unstable stance so it could have been operator error too to a small extent.

Larry

**subsea** · 06-24-2018, 09:23 AM - **2 Likes**

I took 3 shots with my HD DA 16-85mm and my 55-300 PLM for comparison purposes using my K-3ii. All were handheld in a mild, gusty wind. The first is with the HD DA 16-85mm, taken at a focal length of 63mm, with ƒ4.5 at 1/60 sec and ISO 200 (all ISO values set by the camera). The second is the 55-300 PLM with a focal length of 63mm, also with ƒ4.5 at 1/60 sec and ISO 100, and the third is the 55-300 PLM with a focal length of 300mm, ƒ6.3 and 1/200 sec, with an ISO of 400. I don't see a huge difference between them, which is a good thing! They aren't tack sharp, but I didn't expect them to be, given that they were handheld and the flower was moving due to the wind. Overall, I'm pleased with the results.

**Larrymc** · 06-24-2018, 09:31 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by subsea

I took 3 shots with my HD DA 16-85mm and my 55-300 PLM for comparison purposes using my K-3ii. All were handheld in a mild, gusty wind. The first is with the HD DA 16-85mm, taken at a focal length of 63mm, with ƒ4.5 at 1/60 sec and ISO 200 (all ISO values set by the camera). The second is the 55-300 PLM with a focal length of 63mm, also with ƒ4.5 at 1/60 sec and ISO 100, and the third is the 55-300 PLM with a focal length of 300mm, ƒ6.3 and 1/200 sec, with an ISO of 400. I don't see a huge difference between them, which is a good thing! They aren't tack sharp, but I didn't expect them to be, given that they were handheld and the flower was moving due to the wind. Overall, I'm pleased with the results.

Mark,

They all look pretty good to me for the conditions you've described. The OOF areas look much better with the 300mm shot as they should. Have you had to fine tune the PLM?

Larry

**subsea** · 06-24-2018, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by Larrymc

Mark,

They all look pretty good to me for the conditions you've described. The OOF areas look much better with the 300mm shot as they should. Have you had to fine tune the PLM?

Larry

Actually, I haven't gotten around to fine tuning either lens, yet. Based on what I've seen so far, the fine tuning shouldn't be extreme.

06-23-2018, 01:35 PM - 2 Likes	#124
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,251	K-3 and 55-300PLM a bit motion blurry? Taken with my 55-300PLM and K-3. I'm not sure what I'm seeing here, motion blur or back focus.........what do y'all think?? Wary Great Blue Heron! by Larry Mc, on Flickr

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06-23-2018, 12:57 PM	#121
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	...and that is the K3 and not the K3II?

06-23-2018, 01:20 PM	#122
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Perhaps from the source will help. Latest K-3 Firmware Update : Software Downloads \| RICOH IMAGING

06-23-2018, 01:27 PM	#123
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Wow! Finally i can buy this lens. Seems to be terriffic in an incredibly compact packgage...

06-23-2018, 02:21 PM - 2 Likes	#125
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	I would guess back focus based on the ripples. I get this with back button focus when i don't let it up and shake a little. Focus finds new target before the shuttle clicks. When i am not shakey it helps but any jitters and i need to let the button go. Still a nice photo at a small size. Not a scene you see to often.

06-23-2018, 03:52 PM	#126
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	+1 what @swanlefitte said. Blur is uniform on the whole heron, if it was motion-induced it would have probably been mostly on a part of the animal. Plus, the ripples are in focus and they are well behind the bird. Nice pic though.

06-23-2018, 06:53 PM	#127
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,251	Originally posted by LensBeginner +1 what @swanlefitte said. Blur is uniform on the whole heron, if it was motion-induced it would have probably been mostly on a part of the animal. Plus, the ripples are in focus and they are well behind the bird. Nice pic though. Thanks Guys, For some strange reason I had a -1 dialed into my AF fine adjustment. It was supposed to be +-0. Actually when I took a few test shots the fine tune actually worked out to be a +1 but that's so close to the +-0 its almost not noticeable. Larry ---------- Post added 06-23-18 at 08:56 PM ---------- Originally posted by swanlefitte I would guess back focus based on the ripples. I get this with back button focus when i don't let it up and shake a little. Focus finds new target before the shuttle clicks. When i am not shakey it helps but any jitters and i need to let the button go. Still a nice photo at a small size. Not a scene you see to often. I was in AF-C so that may have been a contributor also in addition I ended up in an unstable stance so it could have been operator error too to a small extent. Larry

06-24-2018, 09:31 AM - 1 Like	#129
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,251	Originally posted by subsea I took 3 shots with my HD DA 16-85mm and my 55-300 PLM for comparison purposes using my K-3ii. All were handheld in a mild, gusty wind. The first is with the HD DA 16-85mm, taken at a focal length of 63mm, with ƒ4.5 at 1/60 sec and ISO 200 (all ISO values set by the camera). The second is the 55-300 PLM with a focal length of 63mm, also with ƒ4.5 at 1/60 sec and ISO 100, and the third is the 55-300 PLM with a focal length of 300mm, ƒ6.3 and 1/200 sec, with an ISO of 400. I don't see a huge difference between them, which is a good thing! They aren't tack sharp, but I didn't expect them to be, given that they were handheld and the flower was moving due to the wind. Overall, I'm pleased with the results. Mark, They all look pretty good to me for the conditions you've described. The OOF areas look much better with the 300mm shot as they should. Have you had to fine tune the PLM? Larry

06-24-2018, 10:02 AM	#130
subsea Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Commack, NY Posts: 2,603	Originally posted by Larrymc Mark, They all look pretty good to me for the conditions you've described. The OOF areas look much better with the 300mm shot as they should. Have you had to fine tune the PLM? Larry Actually, I haven't gotten around to fine tuning either lens, yet. Based on what I've seen so far, the fine tuning shouldn't be extreme.

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