[WPRESTO]

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The 560 is starting to show up on eBay for around $6000.

A steal!

Then again for that money you could get: D7100; Tamron 150-600, Nikon 18-140; Nikon 105 macro, Nikon 10-24, plus a high end flash, with some change left over for a camera bag. Unless you are a do-little-but-small-birds-&-wildlife photographer, or maybe a sports photo fan, it's very difficult to justify the cost of most 500mm or more SFL lenses.

Oh, another 500mm f5.6 that might be a relative bargain is the one made by Kowa - f5.6, manual focus & manual diaphragm, but the price is pretty good. AND, it is not simply a remounted spotting scope. It was purpose designed to be a telephoto lens (no prisms, flat field, appropriate focusing mechanism). Not many tests available but what I've seen suggest it has competitive IQ.

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Last edited by WPRESTO; 10-21-2014 at 10:50 AM.

[normhead]

Lets keep it real.
http://stores.ebay.com/Prodigital2000/Pentax-/_i.html?rt=nc&_fsub=13&_sid=78...4&_sop=3&_sc=1

This is the web outlet of Fredricks Photo a chain of about 5 stores. Buy this one today, they'll have another one tomorrow. This is not your typical ebay purchase. You get full warranty and return polices.

---------- Post added 10-21-14 at 01:47 PM ----------

A steal!

Then again for that money you could get: D7100; Tamron 150-600, Nikon 18-140; Nikon 105 macro, Nikon 10-24, plus a high end flash, with some change left over for a camera bag.

This is going to last, until you realize having a 150-600 is not the same as having a A*600 or DA 560. Sure you can buy lots more stuff, but you're not getting the same IQ out of the lens.

The DA*60-250 is the only zoom I've ever used that gives me prime like quality.. and it still falls a little short comparing CA.

[stevebrot]

AND, it is not simply a remounted spotting scope

I guess that explains why it is sold as a "Lens/Scope". The application depends on what you slap on to the rear.

Kowa 500mm f/5.6 FL Telephoto Lens/Scope TP556 B&H Photo Video

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801973-REG/Kowa_TX10_K_Mount_Adapter_for_Kowa.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802162-REG/Kowa_TP_88EC1_TP_88EC_Prism_Unit.html

Seriously though, the inclusion of an adjustable aperture clearly labels this as a photographic lens that can be used as a spotting scope.


Steve

---------- Post added 10-21-14 at 11:16 AM ----------

This is the web outlet of Fredricks Photo a chain f about 5 stores. Buy this one toady, they'll have another one tomorrow. This is not your typical ebay purchase. You get full warranty and return polices.

I have dealt with prodigital2000 before. They are top notch.


Steve

[WPRESTO]

This is going to last, until you realize having a 150-600 is not the same as having a A*600 or DA 560. Sure you can buy lots more stuff, but you're not getting the same IQ out of the lens..

I thought that was the point I was making. If you want top IQ, then SFL teles are the way to go, but it's done at great expense, weight, size, convenience. Whether the cost for top IQ is justified depends on how frequently that very expensive lens is used. If you you need or want 500~600mm every other time you press the shutter release, dig into the retirement fund and go for it. If you use that focal length 4 or 5 times a year, it's hard to justify the price.

[normhead]

I wouldn't pay for anything I'd plan to use 4 or 5 times a year. Those things fall in to the I can live without it category. Those things fall into the "put the 1.4 or 1.7 TC on the A-400" category.

The A*600 is $2400 dollars. Compared to getting in to a whole new system, a steal.

Looking at the review written by the guy from LensRentals, this looks like a pretty good lens. Too bad they didn't release a K-mount version. Let us know how it works out.

[Shanti]

I thought that was the point I was making. If you want top IQ, then SFL teles are the way to go, but it's done at great expense, weight, size, convenience. Whether the cost for top IQ is justified depends on how frequently that very expensive lens is used. If you you need or want 500~600mm every other time you press the shutter release, dig into the retirement fund and go for it. If you use that focal length 4 or 5 times a year, it's hard to justify the price.

Yes I know SFL are better,but like the IS on newer lenses,the in camera IS is not good enough for teles I think. Tried a 400mm 2.8 canon & could hand hold it almost & get a clear shot--very impressed. Alot of the birds I shoot are moving,so tripod is a no go,use a monopod mostly if I can.
Anyone have info on IS with the A 400 or A 600 by chance?

ps the DA560 is $9000 here!!!!

[normhead]

Yes I know SFL are better,but like the IS on newer lenses,the in camera IS is not good enough for teles I think. Tried a 400mm 2.8 canon & could hand hold it almost & get a clear shot--very impressed. Alot of the birds I shoot are moving,so tripod is a no go,use a monopod mostly if I can.
Anyone have info on IS with the A 400 or A 600 by chance?

ps the DA560 is $9000 here!!!!

I usually turn shake reduction off. If you're shooting a Bird in flight and you are panning, shake reduction should be off. If you're shooting off a tripod, shake reduction should be off. Shooting from a monopod, you might need shake reduction trying to approximate a tripod. That being said I do have a few images taken using SR. As you might imagine, it takes a really fast shutter speed but at 1/4000 it can be done. It's just really hard to track anything hand held with a 400mm lens.

[boriscleto]

I usually turn shake reduction off. If you're shooting a Bird in flight and you are panning, shake reduction should be off. If you're shooting off a tripod, shake reduction should be off. Shooting from a monopod, you might need shake reduction trying to approximate a tripod. That being said I do have a few images taken using SR. As you might imagine, it takes a really fast shutter speed but at 1/4000 it can be done. It's just really hard to track anything hand held with a 400mm lens.

The lil'Bigma, and Bigma, have mode 2 OS. Mode 2 is specifically for panning.

[normhead]

The lil'Bigma, and Bigma, have mode 2 OS. Mode 2 is specifically for panning.

Cool... you learn something new every day.

[Shanti]

The lil'Bigma, and Bigma, have mode 2 OS. Mode 2 is specifically for panning.

Is the inbody IS also bad for panning? only had in body type,but hear the lens IS is much better for teles,also panning? does the Tamaron have panning IS?

[JoshC]

If I were to choose between a K3 and another camera I would look at the Canon 70D. It's a superb camera that has great AF, native Wifi, touch screen, fully articulating screen and fast FPS. If wifi is at all important to you, skip Nikon, theirs sucks. Only thing you can do with Nikon wifi is remote capture, no ISO, fstop, speed, focus point etc. Nearly worthless!

[boriscleto]

Is the inbody IS also bad for panning? only had in body type,but hear the lens IS is much better for teles,also panning? does the Tamaron have panning IS?

In body SR should be turned off for panning shots. From what I've read on the other forum Tamron VC is not good for panning.

[Shanti]

If I were to choose between a K3 and another camera I would look at the Canon 70D. It's a superb camera that has great AF, native Wifi, touch screen, fully articulating screen and fast FPS. If wifi is at all important to you, skip Nikon, theirs sucks. Only thing you can do with Nikon wifi is remote capture, no ISO, fstop, speed, focus point etc. Nearly worthless!

I thought the new 750 has better wifi?? would use it only for remote capture ,but since none for Pentax I use a Gopro for some remote bird shots.

[JoshC]

I thought the new 750 has better wifi?? would use it only for remote capture ,but since none for Pentax I use a Gopro for some remote bird shots.

It may be better than previous but AFAIK still has no real camera control. Nikon is really falling short here and it's a superb feature to have.

[clackers]

,but since none for Pentax I use a Gopro for some remote bird shots.

The Flucard doesn't do this in its own (albeit primitive) way?