College student budget 100-300mm lens?

Christemo · 06-09-2010, 04:54 PM

I'm a poor college student, and I would love a higher zoom than what I currently have (18-55). I've found somethings on eBay, but I'm not 100% sure of their quality. Does anyone have any help? Tips and tricks that I missed when reading the forum? Thanks a bunch for any help.

JeffJS · 06-09-2010, 05:45 PM

When I was in college, If I found $1 in the laundry, I considered myself rich. How poor of a college student are you? On a budget (not to break the bank) I don't think you can go wrong with the Tamron LD Di 70-300..

Show Tamron - a set on Flickr

Pentax Lens Review Database - Lens Listings

GerryL · 06-09-2010, 06:16 PM

You can always go for the manual focus lenses.
There are Vivitar 70-300mm lens that are surely less than $100.
They are "A" lenses too that let you have control of the aperture opening via the DSLRs dials if in "Av" mode much like the manual focus Pentax-A lenses.
Once you go AF you are talking about over $100 for sure.
You might even get these MF lenses for less than $60 total including shipping.

bdery · 06-09-2010, 06:38 PM

Best bet is probably the FA 100-300 f4,7 (NOT f4,5). I got mine for 90$ IIRC and it's definitely worth it. Very low CA, very sharp, good not amazing, but good) colours, compact and light. It's an excellent lens in the right hands. Better for sharpness and CA than the Tamron and Sigma 70-300s.

Christemo · 06-09-2010, 06:46 PM

Well, not that poor.

I'm back at my summer job now, so I've got some cash to spend before I really have to save for next semester.
I found a few and got a PM about one that I'm looking into.

**WJW** · 06-09-2010, 07:17 PM

The FA-J 75-300 sells for about that at KEH. It is an under-rated lens and (having owned both) I prefer it to the Tamron mentioned earlier. Here a a couple of samples taken with the FA-J:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/93500-nature-just-watching-people.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/93499-nature-macaw-zoo.html

The Tamron is sharper at the long end but mine was terrible about purple fringing. The killer was the zoo pics that made the zebra look black and lavender striped. :-) He was in the sun, and at an angle so his stripes looked narrow, and the PF covered the entire stripe.

RioRico · 06-09-2010, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by bdery

Best bet is probably the FA 100-300 f4,7 (NOT f4,5). I got mine for 90$ IIRC and it's definitely worth it. Very low CA, very sharp, good not amazing, but good) colours, compact and light. It's an excellent lens in the right hands. Better for sharpness and CA than the Tamron and Sigma 70-300s.

I'll vote for the FA100-300 too. I overpaid at US$120 but I'm not sorry, it's vastly underrated and quite good, about equal to my best 200mm primes. Read the user reviews and you'll see that it doesn't get a 9.6 rating mostly because it looks cheesy on a black camera. As if that matters...

For something rather different and totally manual, look for a legendary Vivitar Series 1 70-200 zoom (versions 1 or 3 preferred). My Version 1 f/3.5 cost under US$33 a couple years ago. Here are the reviews which mostly ding it for being manual. So, use Catch-In-Focus and it's almost as easy as AF.

Last edited by RioRico; 06-09-2010 at 08:42 PM.

Marc Sabatella · 06-09-2010, 09:57 PM

If you search this forum and the lens forum for discussion of cheap telephoto lenses,you'll see the two that come up over and over and voer are the Sigma and Tamron 70-300's. Unlike some of the others being mentioned here, these are both readily available new.

Ecaterin · 06-09-2010, 10:26 PM

Another good word for the FA100-300 4.7 (link to the review in my sig line). At this rate we're going to drive up the price on this lens, you guys

Well, considering it gives the image quality of a lens 3x its price, can't complain

300mm f/8

flipdan2 · 06-10-2010, 01:11 AM

I just made a really good deal the other day. I traded my DA L 18-55mm for a SMC Pentax A 50mm f/2... Not only that i've had it on my K-X since, but it has also changed my look on photos. the DOF, sharpness, and clarity is amazing.

I still have my 50-200mm DA L, so I guess i had a WIN to OWNAGE situation there.. lol

bdery · 06-10-2010, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Another good word for the FA100-300 4.7 (link to the review in my sig line). At this rate we're going to drive up the price on this lens, you guys

considering that us commenters already own it, we might as well create a "legendary" status for it and drive the prices up :P Seriously, every comment about that lens does mention that it sells for around 100$. It wouldn't be a good purchase if it was much more expensive (then again, maybe it would. It just wouldn't be a good deal anymore).

tibbitts · 06-10-2010, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by flipdan2

I just made a really good deal the other day. I traded my DA L 18-55mm for a SMC Pentax A 50mm f/2... Not only that i've had it on my K-X since, but it has also changed my look on photos. the DOF, sharpness, and clarity is amazing.

I still have my 50-200mm DA L, so I guess i had a WIN to OWNAGE situation there.. lol

There was something seriously wrong with that DA-L if you are getting visibly better images from a 50/2. There is no difference between the two lenses in DOF at 50mm at any given lens opening.

Paul

wshi · 06-10-2010, 08:15 PM

Originally posted by tibbitts

There was something seriously wrong with that DA-L if you are getting visibly better images from a 50/2. There is no difference between the two lenses in DOF at 50mm at any given lens opening.

Paul

How can there be no difference at 50mm, as the A 50 f/2 is 3 stops faster? There will be greater background blurring with the A lens wide open, all else being equal.

danpinoy · 06-10-2010, 11:12 PM

Originally posted by tibbitts

There was something seriously wrong with that DA-L if you are getting visibly better images from a 50/2. There is no difference between the two lenses in DOF at 50mm at any given lens opening.

Paul

Idk, but i like sharper images, and that DA-L was just not working for me...

Marc Sabatella · 06-11-2010, 08:21 AM

At f/4 or f/5.6, the 50/2 would outperform the 18-55. At f/8 and above, it wouldn't. Of cours,e the 50/2 has the option of shooting 2/8 or f/2 that the 18-55 doesn't. But the 1855 has the option of shooting the whole 18-50mm range that the 50/2 doesn't. Trading either lens for the other is a big mistake - you want *both*. The 18-55 for the shots that require a wider angle than 50mm provides, and the 50mm for the shots that require a larger aperture or more sharpenss at the specific aperture where it does indeed outperform the 18-55.

06-09-2010, 04:54 PM	#1
Christemo Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Marlton, NJ Posts: 29	College student budget 100-300mm lens? I'm a poor college student, and I would love a higher zoom than what I currently have (18-55). I've found somethings on eBay, but I'm not 100% sure of their quality. Does anyone have any help? Tips and tricks that I missed when reading the forum? Thanks a bunch for any help.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K-x or other for college student?	justdad	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	10	05-13-2010 11:56 AM
Best budget tripod for a K20D kit lens and a Tamron 70-300mm lens.	shaolin95	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	13	08-29-2009 11:53 AM
For Sale - Sold: Three Budget Zooms: Sigma 18-50mm, Sigma 70-210mm, Quantaray 100-300mm	mikeSF	Sold Items	3	02-21-2009 08:34 AM
Is the Pentax - 75-300mm F4.5-5.8 SMCP-FA J AL Zoom Lens a good budget zoom?	Kornbread	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	01-16-2009 03:45 PM
Need to get a flash.. but what? (College student)	skydragoness	Pentax DSLR Discussion	31	04-14-2008 10:30 AM

06-09-2010, 05:45 PM	#2
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	When I was in college, If I found $1 in the laundry, I considered myself rich. How poor of a college student are you? On a budget (not to break the bank) I don't think you can go wrong with the Tamron LD Di 70-300.. Show Tamron - a set on Flickr Pentax Lens Review Database - Lens Listings

06-09-2010, 06:16 PM	#3
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	You can always go for the manual focus lenses. There are Vivitar 70-300mm lens that are surely less than $100. They are "A" lenses too that let you have control of the aperture opening via the DSLRs dials if in "Av" mode much like the manual focus Pentax-A lenses. Once you go AF you are talking about over $100 for sure. You might even get these MF lenses for less than $60 total including shipping.

06-09-2010, 06:38 PM	#4
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,363	Best bet is probably the FA 100-300 f4,7 (NOT f4,5). I got mine for 90$ IIRC and it's definitely worth it. Very low CA, very sharp, good not amazing, but good) colours, compact and light. It's an excellent lens in the right hands. Better for sharpness and CA than the Tamron and Sigma 70-300s.

06-09-2010, 06:46 PM	#5
Christemo Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Marlton, NJ Posts: 29 Original Poster	Well, not that poor. I'm back at my summer job now, so I've got some cash to spend before I really have to save for next semester. I found a few and got a PM about one that I'm looking into.

06-09-2010, 07:17 PM	#6
WJW Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 383	The FA-J 75-300 sells for about that at KEH. It is an under-rated lens and (having owned both) I prefer it to the Tamron mentioned earlier. Here a a couple of samples taken with the FA-J: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/93500-nature-just-watching-people.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/93499-nature-macaw-zoo.html The Tamron is sharper at the long end but mine was terrible about purple fringing. The killer was the zoo pics that made the zebra look black and lavender striped. :-) He was in the sun, and at an angle so his stripes looked narrow, and the PF covered the entire stripe.

06-09-2010, 08:31 PM	#7
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by bdery Best bet is probably the FA 100-300 f4,7 (NOT f4,5). I got mine for 90$ IIRC and it's definitely worth it. Very low CA, very sharp, good not amazing, but good) colours, compact and light. It's an excellent lens in the right hands. Better for sharpness and CA than the Tamron and Sigma 70-300s. I'll vote for the FA100-300 too. I overpaid at US$120 but I'm not sorry, it's vastly underrated and quite good, about equal to my best 200mm primes. Read the user reviews and you'll see that it doesn't get a 9.6 rating mostly because it looks cheesy on a black camera. As if that matters... For something rather different and totally manual, look for a legendary Vivitar Series 1 70-200 zoom (versions 1 or 3 preferred). My Version 1 f/3.5 cost under US$33 a couple years ago. Here are the reviews which mostly ding it for being manual. So, use Catch-In-Focus and it's almost as easy as AF. Last edited by RioRico; 06-09-2010 at 08:42 PM.

06-09-2010, 09:57 PM	#8
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	If you search this forum and the lens forum for discussion of cheap telephoto lenses,you'll see the two that come up over and over and voer are the Sigma and Tamron 70-300's. Unlike some of the others being mentioned here, these are both readily available new.

06-09-2010, 10:26 PM	#9
Ecaterin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 723	Another good word for the FA100-300 4.7 (link to the review in my sig line). At this rate we're going to drive up the price on this lens, you guys Well, considering it gives the image quality of a lens 3x its price, can't complain 300mm f/8

06-10-2010, 01:11 AM	#10
flipdan2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2	I just made a really good deal the other day. I traded my DA L 18-55mm for a SMC Pentax A 50mm f/2... Not only that i've had it on my K-X since, but it has also changed my look on photos. the DOF, sharpness, and clarity is amazing. I still have my 50-200mm DA L, so I guess i had a WIN to OWNAGE situation there.. lol

06-10-2010, 04:40 AM	#11
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,363	Quote: Another good word for the FA100-300 4.7 (link to the review in my sig line). At this rate we're going to drive up the price on this lens, you guys considering that us commenters already own it, we might as well create a "legendary" status for it and drive the prices up :P Seriously, every comment about that lens does mention that it sells for around 100$. It wouldn't be a good purchase if it was much more expensive (then again, maybe it would. It just wouldn't be a good deal anymore).

06-10-2010, 04:36 PM	#12
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,196	Originally posted by flipdan2 I just made a really good deal the other day. I traded my DA L 18-55mm for a SMC Pentax A 50mm f/2... Not only that i've had it on my K-X since, but it has also changed my look on photos. the DOF, sharpness, and clarity is amazing. I still have my 50-200mm DA L, so I guess i had a WIN to OWNAGE situation there.. lol There was something seriously wrong with that DA-L if you are getting visibly better images from a 50/2. There is no difference between the two lenses in DOF at 50mm at any given lens opening. Paul

06-10-2010, 08:15 PM	#13
wshi Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 455	Originally posted by tibbitts There was something seriously wrong with that DA-L if you are getting visibly better images from a 50/2. There is no difference between the two lenses in DOF at 50mm at any given lens opening. Paul How can there be no difference at 50mm, as the A 50 f/2 is 3 stops faster? There will be greater background blurring with the A lens wide open, all else being equal.

06-10-2010, 11:12 PM	#14
danpinoy Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 20	Originally posted by tibbitts There was something seriously wrong with that DA-L if you are getting visibly better images from a 50/2. There is no difference between the two lenses in DOF at 50mm at any given lens opening. Paul Idk, but i like sharper images, and that DA-L was just not working for me...

06-11-2010, 08:21 AM	#15
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	At f/4 or f/5.6, the 50/2 would outperform the 18-55. At f/8 and above, it wouldn't. Of cours,e the 50/2 has the option of shooting 2/8 or f/2 that the 18-55 doesn't. But the 1855 has the option of shooting the whole 18-50mm range that the 50/2 doesn't. Trading either lens for the other is a big mistake - you want both. The 18-55 for the shots that require a wider angle than 50mm provides, and the 50mm for the shots that require a larger aperture or more sharpenss at the specific aperture where it does indeed outperform the 18-55.