[WerTicus]

Two bodies I take it? get a k20d and a k-7 imo. (if you cant do the k-5)

DA*300 f4 is your only option... perhaps with a 1.4x converter?

get a Kenko Pz-AF 1.5x Teleplus SHQ it works with SDM...

and Kenko are owned by Hoya so its basically a Pentax.... :P

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Last edited by WerTicus; 09-22-2010 at 08:50 AM.

[borno]

I have canon and pentax and think you would regret selling the 400mm f5.6L. The AF speed is phenomenol. I kept my pentax stuff for general photo stuff and the canon for wildlife.

[str8talk83]

Perhaps you can sell off everything except your 40d and the 400, and buy a K7 and all the other nice primes that Pentax has. That might make the most sense for a dual system.

This sounds like the best solution for me probably. I might go with a dual system and pick up a k-7 (or k-5) and then keep my 400 lens for wildlife purposes and build up a Pentax system for the other focal lengths. I may wait out the k-5 and see how good the autofocus really is.

[str8talk83]

How good are the FA series primes? I'm mainly talking about the FA 31 1.8, FA 43 1.9 and the FA 77 1.8. They seem to have a cult status like the canon 35L, 85L, 135L (known as the holy trinity of primes in Canon speak) but I'm wondering if it's mostly hype or not.

I know that Nikon calls their 85mm f/1.4D the "cream machine" but that it doesn't even compare to the 85L in bokeh at all and doesn't quite live up to the hype. Granted, the 85L sets a pretty high standard for bokeh...

[Frogfish]

I would be another recommending a dual system.

However if you wanted to get the best long lense WR system then it would seem to be the K5 with a DA*300 and either the AFA 1.7x, Tamron 1.4 or Kenko 1.5x (the SHQ version as the DG version doesn't work with SDM). Bearing in mind the TCs are not WR proof but it might be easy to find a physical work-around for that.

There are some stellar examples floating around of the IQ with these TCs. The AFA or the Tamron seem to be the best.

[Boris]

How good are the FA series primes? I'm mainly talking about the FA 31 1.8, FA 43 1.9 and the FA 77 1.8.

I've all three of them. Shot about 10K total with these three lenses. So, if you want, I can send some full size JPGs or RAWs your way... Just indicate what kind of subjects/conditions you require...

[str8talk83]

I've all three of them. Shot about 10K total with these three lenses. So, if you want, I can send some full size JPGs or RAWs your way... Just indicate what kind of subjects/conditions you require...

I do mostly wildlife, but I like to shoot portraits and candids of my son and also do some street shooting from time to time. I would appreciate a few pics if you have the time....

[str8talk83]

I just spent some time looking at the FA 31, 43 and 77 reviews. WOW! These lenses really pack a lot of punch. They don't have the unbelievable f/1.2 abilities of the Canon 50L and 85L, but I actually like the bokeh slightly better. The quality of the bokeh seems perfect to my eyes.

On another note, while these lenses aren't cheap they don't seem that expensive to me being a Canon shooter. I'm sure that they are fairly reasonable on the used market (A canon 35L commands around 900 used, 50L around 1100 and 85L is around 1600 used for some perspective.)

canon price gouging (do to IS in lenses) can be frustrating. Examples.

17-55 f/2.8 IS= $850 (used)
70-200 f/2.8L IS (version 1)= 1550 (used)
100-400L IS =1400 (used)

[Ratmagiclady]

I would suggest to proceed with caution as it may so happen the whatever Pentax has to offer, including their newest cameras and lenses, it may still be insufficient for your specific style/kind of shooting. It is not difficult to match any of your lenses except 400/5.6. As well you might want to keep one Canon body and that specific lens as your secondary kit and use Pentax for everything else.

Actually, that's really not a bad idea at all. It's not like digital bodies have different films: why not put a Canon body behind that big piece of glass you like, and check out the Pentax system for the rest?

I still often carry a mixed kit (my old Canon F-1 and related glass: I don't use big stuff, mostly) plus my Pentax stuff, ...if you're all digital, there'd be nothing stupid about dedicating one camera body to your favorite big lens and considering yourself free to shoot whatever else you like. ) Since you're wildlifey, you may wish to go with a K-7 at least, though: the AF improvements are supposed to be quite significant already, and the K-5's sounding pretty good even compared to that.


(Edit: Heh, I missed a page. I see you've liked that idea already. )

[str8talk83]

Str8talk83, I'd like to recommend you this link. Likely some useful practical information will be found there.

I would suggest to proceed with caution as it may so happen the whatever Pentax has to offer, including their newest cameras and lenses, it may still be insufficient for your specific style/kind of shooting. It is not difficult to match any of your lenses except 400/5.6. As well you might want to keep one Canon body and that specific lens as your secondary kit and use Pentax for everything else.

Also Pentax has very interesting proposition of DA* 60-250/4 that sans the potential SDM issues seems like an interesting idea.

Thanks for this article. Very insightful information from someone who obviously knows what they are doing.