Monarch in Motion

mymaiseygirl · 09-05-2021, 10:55 PM - **1 Like**

Using the KP at 1/2500 caught this Monarch playing hide and seek who wouldnt stop moving using the 55-300 mm lens

Hes there in the leaves flying around and around

Last edited by mymaiseygirl; 10-08-2021 at 05:19 AM.

**mikesbike** · 09-13-2021, 03:23 PM

Great shot of such an elusive subject. Good sharpness in the closeup considering it is obviously cropped out of the scene. Which version of the 55-300mm are you using? It doesn't appear in the exif.

There were 3 versions of the Pentax telephoto 55-300mm. There was a DA-L 55-300mm kit lens, the least expensive, then there was the DA 55-300mm having a better build quality and quick-shift manual focus touchup available for AF shots, and then finally the HD (High Definition coatings) DA 55-300mm WR version. All have the same optical formula with f/4-5.8 maximum aperture, and operate via the camera's screw-driven AF system, which exhibits a slight noise.

The new PLM version is more compact and has its own silent and faster-focusing motor, but in a more compact design while that smaller size comes with a maximum aperture of f/4.5-6.3 which is somewhat smaller than the older versions, letting in less light.

mymaiseygirl · 09-14-2021, 01:17 AM

Hi Mikes Bike

Thanks for all that information on the lens. Didnt know there were three versions. I have the last one u mentioned HD DA 55-300 mm
After using it for some months wish I had bought the PLM version for the faster focusing.

Elusive is right. Never paid much attention to Butterflies til recently. Sure are hard to follow much less take a picture.
Thanks for looking. Yes that close up is cropped from the original shot. One of the few times the thing stopped moving for a split second.

Theres a closer shot of a different Monarch on the website under "Creatures with Wings" markgoldstein.photoshelter.com

Thx again.

**mikesbike** · 09-16-2021, 07:14 PM

I also have the older HD WR version, for many years now, and have hung on to it. AF has been good enough, and actually improved for speed and sureness noticeably with the KP! If you don't go to extremes from near to far distance back and forth, this also allows AF to be a lot quicker. It and the new PLM version each have their own advantages.

A main reasons for less AF speed in the old version is a longer rotation focus throw. But this can be an advantage when it comes to manual focus, including the quick-shift AF manual focus touchup. Having more rotation range allows for easier manual focus fine adjustment. The old manual focus lenses typically have more rotation range than is typical for AF lenses.

Another advantage for this older lens is in not being of internal focusing design, but has instead a standard focus mechanism. The internal focus technology can help with focus speed, but also tends to introduce what is called "focus breathing" which will shorten the effective focal length at shorter shooting distances. So if you say creep up to get fairly close to a bird or other small wildlife, and are say shooting at 300mm, the resultant size of that bird in your picture will be larger with your older lens than it would be with the newer one. If you'd be happy enough with the smaller size the new lens could provide at 300mm, with your older lens you could shoot at less than 300mm to get the same size, which should improve image quality. Zoom lenses tend to be not at their very best when racked all the way out.

The upgrades of this optical formula by adding HD coatings and WR construction were important upgrades. I used to have the previous version, which was slightly damaged but only to filter threads so filters could not be used. Upon getting the HD WR replacement, I was surprised to find improvement in image quality was noticeable due to the HD coatings! Better contrast and detail.

Last edited by mikesbike; 09-16-2021 at 07:23 PM.

09-05-2021, 10:55 PM - 1 Like	#1
mymaiseygirl Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: New Mexico Photos: Albums Posts: 158	Monarch in Motion Using the KP at 1/2500 caught this Monarch playing hide and seek who wouldnt stop moving using the 55-300 mm lens Hes there in the leaves flying around and around Last edited by mymaiseygirl; 10-08-2021 at 05:19 AM.

09-13-2021, 03:23 PM	#2
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	Great shot of such an elusive subject. Good sharpness in the closeup considering it is obviously cropped out of the scene. Which version of the 55-300mm are you using? It doesn't appear in the exif. There were 3 versions of the Pentax telephoto 55-300mm. There was a DA-L 55-300mm kit lens, the least expensive, then there was the DA 55-300mm having a better build quality and quick-shift manual focus touchup available for AF shots, and then finally the HD (High Definition coatings) DA 55-300mm WR version. All have the same optical formula with f/4-5.8 maximum aperture, and operate via the camera's screw-driven AF system, which exhibits a slight noise. The new PLM version is more compact and has its own silent and faster-focusing motor, but in a more compact design while that smaller size comes with a maximum aperture of f/4.5-6.3 which is somewhat smaller than the older versions, letting in less light. Last edited by mikesbike; 09-13-2021 at 03:38 PM.

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09-14-2021, 01:17 AM	#3
mymaiseygirl Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: New Mexico Photos: Albums Posts: 158 Original Poster	Hi Mikes Bike Thanks for all that information on the lens. Didnt know there were three versions. I have the last one u mentioned HD DA 55-300 mm After using it for some months wish I had bought the PLM version for the faster focusing. Elusive is right. Never paid much attention to Butterflies til recently. Sure are hard to follow much less take a picture. Thanks for looking. Yes that close up is cropped from the original shot. One of the few times the thing stopped moving for a split second. Theres a closer shot of a different Monarch on the website under "Creatures with Wings" markgoldstein.photoshelter.com Thx again.

09-16-2021, 07:14 PM	#4
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	I also have the older HD WR version, for many years now, and have hung on to it. AF has been good enough, and actually improved for speed and sureness noticeably with the KP! If you don't go to extremes from near to far distance back and forth, this also allows AF to be a lot quicker. It and the new PLM version each have their own advantages. A main reasons for less AF speed in the old version is a longer rotation focus throw. But this can be an advantage when it comes to manual focus, including the quick-shift AF manual focus touchup. Having more rotation range allows for easier manual focus fine adjustment. The old manual focus lenses typically have more rotation range than is typical for AF lenses. Another advantage for this older lens is in not being of internal focusing design, but has instead a standard focus mechanism. The internal focus technology can help with focus speed, but also tends to introduce what is called "focus breathing" which will shorten the effective focal length at shorter shooting distances. So if you say creep up to get fairly close to a bird or other small wildlife, and are say shooting at 300mm, the resultant size of that bird in your picture will be larger with your older lens than it would be with the newer one. If you'd be happy enough with the smaller size the new lens could provide at 300mm, with your older lens you could shoot at less than 300mm to get the same size, which should improve image quality. Zoom lenses tend to be not at their very best when racked all the way out. The upgrades of this optical formula by adding HD coatings and WR construction were important upgrades. I used to have the previous version, which was slightly damaged but only to filter threads so filters could not be used. Upon getting the HD WR replacement, I was surprised to find improvement in image quality was noticeable due to the HD coatings! Better contrast and detail. Last edited by mikesbike; 09-16-2021 at 07:23 PM.