[dirwood]

Just wondering what lenses everyone is using with their KP's for wildlife and/or birding. Pic's help too! I'm looking at getting a TC plus a lens but I plan on doing it in 2 stages. I originally was going for the pentax 55-300 plm but I don't think that would work well with a TC?? and I'm not sure how well long distance shots would crop. Just trying to help narrow down what I already have in my head.

[Bertrand3000]

The 55-300 PLM is a very good lens, and the fastest focusing in the entire lineup. I have no experience with TC but I have read it works, but only with very good light.

[dirwood]

Just another bit to add as I am looking around. I see they have nikon to pentax mount adapters for lenses. I am sure there are more but that is the first one I saw. Has anyone tried this setup?

[kypfer]

I bought a s/h Sigma 150-500mm for my K-70 three years ago, it's followed me through my KP and is now with my K-3iii. I'm very satisfied with it
Yes it's a "bit soft" at the edges of the frame, yes, the a/f struggles a bit in poor light with the f/6.3 maximum aperture at the long end, but failing the availability of a Pentax equivalent at a similar price it was the best I could afford at the time and I'm still not convinced I "need" to "upgrade".
Unless your subject is relatively big, swans, eagles etc., or relatively close, garden birds on feeders etc., I feel, from experience, a 300mm is rather short for "birding" in general. A teleconverter can make a difference, but bear in mind a teleconverter will magnify any shortcomings in your lens as well as the subject, hence the oft-repeated advice that it can be better to crop heavily than rely on a converter. However, for that once in a season/lifetime shot of a rare migrant at 100yds. plus, I've got a 1.5x in my pocket, just in case
Don't bother yourself with system1-system2 adaptors unless you have ready access to some fairly specialised glass, eg. tilt-&-shift, fish-eye, ultra-telephoto etc., and no other way of using it. At best it'll be totally manual, both focussing and exposure, more often there'll be no aperture control and you'll be stuck "wide-open"!







Male Marsh Harrier - 1/1500 @ f/8 - Pentax KP + Sigma 150-500mm - range around 75-100yds - the recent firmware update seems to have improved the a/f performance of the KP, but it may just be coincidence

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Last edited by kypfer; 05-13-2021 at 07:19 AM. Reason: Added picture

[rogerstg]

I too have a Sigma 150-500 and a Sigma 50-500 since both my wife and I were interested in wildlife photography. There's nothing wrong with those, but if it were just for one of us, with what I know now, I'd opt for the DA 300 f/4 with a TC or the FA 150-450mm.

[boriscleto]

Just another bit to add as I am looking around. I see they have nikon to pentax mount adapters for lenses. I am sure there are more but that is the first one I saw. Has anyone tried this setup?

Not worth it. All manual and they are just a short, single element, tele-converter.

Sadly, Pentax is just the wrong system for cheap and long...

[timb64]

I get passable results with a 55-300 PLM.Sorry,no experience with the TC,I’ve found cropping yields acceptable images.

[dirwood]

Not worth it. All manual and they are just a short, single element, tele-converter.

Sadly, Pentax is just the wrong system for cheap and long...

Yes. From my looking around after posting I will not be attempting this or looking into it anymore. I'll stick with the lenses made for pentax.

[ramseybuckeye]

I have the KP, the DA converter, the DD *300, and the DA 55-300 PLM. The PLM does require good light but will give good results with the light. I’m posting mobile, will come back with some samples later.

[caliscouser]

Are you shooting a lot of moving wildlife or static?

Loving my KP + HD DA 1.4x + DA*300 for mostly static bird stuff. A very mobile kit.

For action the 55-300 PLM would be better. People are getting some great shots with this lens, but it is not quite at the level of the DA*300 image quality wise.

Here are a couple with KP + HD DA 1.4x + DA*300

[ramseybuckeye]

First, these are with the KP, TC, and 55-300 PLM, these are on Flickr so click the photo to zoom in or see EXIF.

Sanderling at the Beach, When I go to the Beach I normally take the PLM, I know the light will be good, because you get double light reflecting off of the water and sand. Uncropped


Clapper Rail in the salt marsh, I took the PLM this day just to have a lighter kit. Uncropped


Wilson's Plover on a low tide mud flat/sand bar. Uncropped


Sunrise Beach Scene, something that the zoom can do that the prime can't, this is 135mm. Uncropped

[ramseybuckeye]

And these are with the KP, TC, and DA*300. The TC made this lens so much better, it did the PLM too.

Great Blue Heron in the salt marsh, Uncropped


Blue Gray Gnatcatcher. Cropped quite a bit


Cedar Waxwing Cropped quite a bit


Brown Pelican. Cropped


Nelson's Sparrow, first picture is uncropped, second is cropped quite a bit, shot from same spot

[ramseybuckeye]

I would also suggest that you take a look at the 300 plus lens club, starting from the back so you get current results and discussions. It's a pretty well contributed and read thread.

[dirwood]

Thanks guys. It almost looks as if I should get the TC and both those lenses. I think a good starting point will be the PLM because I don't always shoot at 300mm. I like the ability to make adjustments at home when I'm shooting the dogs playing frisbee. The TC will make it good for when we head out and go for walks. The issue is I want to find a used PLM but not pay over 400 for a used one...I am trying to be patient.

[boriscleto]

Since this is turning into show and tell I'LL play along

I don't have a KP, or any photos with the PLM and 1.4 TC, but I used the Sigma 150-500 with the K-5 & K-3 for years...











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