Longer lenses?

jbrowning · 08-03-2015, 08:02 PM

So I shoot with the k3 and Bigma or Sigma 70-200 f2.8. Any ideas if Pentax or someone else will make a longer lens like the bigma? I shoot motorcycle racing and really need the length.

Thank
Jim

Adam · 08-03-2015, 08:07 PM

I think the Pentax 150-450mm will easily out-resolve the Bigma, so that would be an upgrade for you. It can also be paired with the 1.4x TC for additional reach.

jbrowning · 08-03-2015, 08:10 PM

Thanks Adam, I really haven't kept up with all the Full Frame stuff. I have been happy with what I have. Buuuut if the FF is coming up. I might need to upgrade my whole kit for next summer race seasons. And they will be weather sealed so I don't have to worry about the dust from horse arenas.

Jim

DeadJohn · 08-03-2015, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by jbrowning

Thanks Adam, I really haven't kept up with all the Full Frame stuff. I have been happy with what I have. Buuuut if the FF is coming up. I might need to upgrade my whole kit for next summer race seasons. And they will be weather sealed so I don't have to worry about the dust from horse arenas.

The Sigma 50-500 and 70-200 already have an FF image circle so you wouldn't have to upgrade all lenses immediately if you went with the upcoming Pentax FF body. The FF plus Pentax 70-200 and Pentax 150-450 will probably be a great setup ... I'm just saying that transitioning over time will ease the hit on your wallet.

If you need the reach from long lenses, though, your K-3 might remain better than the FF body. We still don't know FF specs like the pixel count, pixel size, and maximum frame rate.

rawr · 08-03-2015, 11:05 PM

Originally posted by jbrowning

Any ideas if Pentax or someone else will make a longer lens like the bigma? ... I really haven't kept up with all the Full Frame stuff.

The Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 is now in stores and seems a very decent lens - fast AF, great optical performance, FF-compatible, and a nice 230mm to 690mm on APS-C. There's even a lens club on Pentax Forums for it now, with lots of image samples.

Next Pentax sports telephoto to be released is the Pentax D FA★70-200mmF2.8ED DC AW, which is due to be released soon. It is also likely to be a great performer on FF and APS-C.

fredralphfred · 08-04-2015, 12:05 AM

Originally posted by jbrowning

Thanks Adam, I really haven't kept up with all the Full Frame stuff. I have been happy with what I have. Buuuut if the FF is coming up. I might need to upgrade my whole kit for next summer race seasons. And they will be weather sealed so I don't have to worry about the dust from horse arenas.

Jim

You shoot horses racing motorcycles? I want to see this!

MarkJerling · 08-04-2015, 04:22 AM

Originally posted by fredralphfred

You shoot horses racing motorcycles? I want to see this!

+1! I'll pay to see that! Would love to see a pileup too!

jbrowning · 08-04-2015, 05:59 AM

No no no, I shoot both motorcycle racing and barrel racing.

Thanks
Jim

Paul the Sunman · 08-04-2015, 05:33 PM

There is a (wishful) possibility that Sigma may make one of their 150-600mm (C or S) lenses available in K-mount once the FF is released. Both are very good, especially the S.

**boriscleto** · 08-04-2015, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

There is a (wishful) possibility that Sigma may make one of their 150-600mm (C or S) lenses available in K-mount once the FF is released. Both are very good, especially the S.

Nikon has a new VR 200-500/5.6 for $1395. Sigma and Tamron have real competion now...

Paul the Sunman · 08-04-2015, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Nikon has a new VR 200-500/5.6 for $1395. Sigma and Tamron have real competion now...

Indeed! Makes the pricing of the Pentax 150-450 look unsustainable.

rawr · 08-05-2015, 01:42 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

Makes the pricing of the Pentax 150-450 look unsustainable.

The pricing of the Nikon 80-400 f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is still staying high, however - US$2300+. The Nikon 200-500 is more likely to make the Nikon 80-400 price unsustainable, I think.

At B&H Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II is still $2200, Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G2 is US$2200. So the Pentax 150-450 at US$2,099.95 is, in fact, the cheapest of the name-brand zooms in this category. And the Pentax is only $100 more than the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports.

jbrowning · 08-05-2015, 01:11 PM

So how can you tell if a lens is made for a FF or APS-C camera body?

Thanks
Jim

**boriscleto** · 08-05-2015, 01:42 PM

Originally posted by jbrowning

So how can you tell if a lens is made for a FF or APS-C camera body?

Thanks
Jim

Pentax labels lenses made for APS-C DA. But the long DA lenses cover a FF sensor. FA and D FA are for FF.

Sigma labels lenses made for APS-C DC. FF lenses are labeled DG.

Tamron labels APS-C lenses DI-II, FF are just DI.

Nikon calls FF FX and APS-C DX. But they don't put that in the name of the lens.

Canon labels lenses for APS-C EF-S.

Paul the Sunman · 08-05-2015, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by jbrowning

So how can you tell if a lens is made for a FF or APS-C camera body?

Thanks
Jim

Depending on the brand, it will have different letters in its name. For Pentax, FA or D FA are full frame, whilst DA are APS-C. However, some DA lenses unofficially cover the FF sensor, perhaps with some vignetting. For Sigma, DC is APS-C and DG is FF.

08-03-2015, 08:02 PM	#1
jbrowning Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 996	Longer lenses? So I shoot with the k3 and Bigma or Sigma 70-200 f2.8. Any ideas if Pentax or someone else will make a longer lens like the bigma? I shoot motorcycle racing and really need the length. Thank Jim

08-03-2015, 08:07 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	I think the Pentax 150-450mm will easily out-resolve the Bigma, so that would be an upgrade for you. It can also be paired with the 1.4x TC for additional reach. 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:

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08-03-2015, 08:10 PM	#3
jbrowning Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 996 Original Poster	Thanks Adam, I really haven't kept up with all the Full Frame stuff. I have been happy with what I have. Buuuut if the FF is coming up. I might need to upgrade my whole kit for next summer race seasons. And they will be weather sealed so I don't have to worry about the dust from horse arenas. Jim

08-03-2015, 08:45 PM	#4
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Originally posted by jbrowning Thanks Adam, I really haven't kept up with all the Full Frame stuff. I have been happy with what I have. Buuuut if the FF is coming up. I might need to upgrade my whole kit for next summer race seasons. And they will be weather sealed so I don't have to worry about the dust from horse arenas. The Sigma 50-500 and 70-200 already have an FF image circle so you wouldn't have to upgrade all lenses immediately if you went with the upcoming Pentax FF body. The FF plus Pentax 70-200 and Pentax 150-450 will probably be a great setup ... I'm just saying that transitioning over time will ease the hit on your wallet. If you need the reach from long lenses, though, your K-3 might remain better than the FF body. We still don't know FF specs like the pixel count, pixel size, and maximum frame rate.

08-03-2015, 11:05 PM	#5
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by jbrowning Any ideas if Pentax or someone else will make a longer lens like the bigma? ... I really haven't kept up with all the Full Frame stuff. The Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 is now in stores and seems a very decent lens - fast AF, great optical performance, FF-compatible, and a nice 230mm to 690mm on APS-C. There's even a lens club on Pentax Forums for it now, with lots of image samples. Next Pentax sports telephoto to be released is the Pentax D FA★70-200mmF2.8ED DC AW, which is due to be released soon. It is also likely to be a great performer on FF and APS-C.

08-04-2015, 12:05 AM	#6
fredralphfred Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Orting, WA Posts: 252	Originally posted by jbrowning Thanks Adam, I really haven't kept up with all the Full Frame stuff. I have been happy with what I have. Buuuut if the FF is coming up. I might need to upgrade my whole kit for next summer race seasons. And they will be weather sealed so I don't have to worry about the dust from horse arenas. Jim You shoot horses racing motorcycles? I want to see this!

08-04-2015, 04:22 AM	#7
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Originally posted by fredralphfred You shoot horses racing motorcycles? I want to see this! +1! I'll pay to see that! Would love to see a pileup too!

08-04-2015, 05:59 AM	#8
jbrowning Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 996 Original Poster	No no no, I shoot both motorcycle racing and barrel racing. Thanks Jim

08-04-2015, 05:33 PM	#9
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	There is a (wishful) possibility that Sigma may make one of their 150-600mm (C or S) lenses available in K-mount once the FF is released. Both are very good, especially the S.

08-04-2015, 05:36 PM	#10
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman There is a (wishful) possibility that Sigma may make one of their 150-600mm (C or S) lenses available in K-mount once the FF is released. Both are very good, especially the S. Nikon has a new VR 200-500/5.6 for $1395. Sigma and Tamron have real competion now...

08-04-2015, 06:21 PM	#11
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	Originally posted by boriscleto Nikon has a new VR 200-500/5.6 for $1395. Sigma and Tamron have real competion now... Indeed! Makes the pricing of the Pentax 150-450 look unsustainable.

08-05-2015, 01:42 AM	#12
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman Makes the pricing of the Pentax 150-450 look unsustainable. The pricing of the Nikon 80-400 f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is still staying high, however - US$2300+. The Nikon 200-500 is more likely to make the Nikon 80-400 price unsustainable, I think. At B&H Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II is still $2200, Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G2 is US$2200. So the Pentax 150-450 at US$2,099.95 is, in fact, the cheapest of the name-brand zooms in this category. And the Pentax is only $100 more than the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports.

08-05-2015, 01:11 PM	#13
jbrowning Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 996 Original Poster	So how can you tell if a lens is made for a FF or APS-C camera body? Thanks Jim

08-05-2015, 01:42 PM	#14
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by jbrowning So how can you tell if a lens is made for a FF or APS-C camera body? Thanks Jim Pentax labels lenses made for APS-C DA. But the long DA lenses cover a FF sensor. FA and D FA are for FF. Sigma labels lenses made for APS-C DC. FF lenses are labeled DG. Tamron labels APS-C lenses DI-II, FF are just DI. Nikon calls FF FX and APS-C DX. But they don't put that in the name of the lens. Canon labels lenses for APS-C EF-S.

08-05-2015, 01:48 PM	#15
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	Originally posted by jbrowning So how can you tell if a lens is made for a FF or APS-C camera body? Thanks Jim Depending on the brand, it will have different letters in its name. For Pentax, FA or D FA are full frame, whilst DA are APS-C. However, some DA lenses unofficially cover the FF sensor, perhaps with some vignetting. For Sigma, DC is APS-C and DG is FF.