[audiobomber]

I use an A*300mm f4 for shooting wildlife and sports, mostly used wide open, and often with a Kenko 1.5X TC. I have trouble nailing the focus with my K20D. Would focus peaking on a K-30 raise my hit rate? Is there any downside to focus peaking vs regular manual focus? What about speed, would focus peaking help to acquire focus faster?

I also have a K-x with Pentax O-ME53 magnifier, which I only use when I'm stuck with high ISO shooting conditions. I'd debating whether to go for a body upgrade, or get the DA*300mm. I'm hesitating on the lens upgrade because I often shoot birds in trees where AF doesn't help, and I don't believe my Kenko PZ TC will be useable with the DA*300.

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Last edited by audiobomber; 07-16-2012 at 07:14 AM.

[crewl1]

I have experience with the DA*300 and a Kenko 1.5 PZ TC, and I can tell you the AF of the combination is unreliable.

Best results are achieved by manually focusing the combination close to the target and then letting it finish, or just manually focusing. IQ is very good, though.

AF of the DA*300 alone is fantastic.

Also, the Kenko on a screw-drive 300 lens I have is very good at AF, but the combo IQ is not so good as the lens is a Tamron-70-300 and any of its issues are exacerbated by the TC.

Not sure why the Kenko does not like SDM.

[pearsaab]

i have both the kenko and the pentax 1.7 AF extender with the da 300...the kenko doesn't work well at all with the 300 but the 1.7 af works great...you still have to manually focus close to the target like crewl said but i am very happy with my shots

[slackercruster]

I like it on the K-01. (Never used anything longer than 120 on it) But I prefer DSLR focus if doing manual focus.

[ihasa]

But guys, what about focus peaking, as per the OP's question? Maybe one for a K01 owner?

[kenafein]

I use focus peaking on my NEX with a 300mm/4 and a 2x TC. It is very easy to focus manually, and the k30 has a better peaking implementation.