Originally posted by biz-engineer I have a DA300 , I use it with the TC. I like the image quality of the DA300 without TC. With TC, image quality is not so great to my taste. So, I would like to have a sharp 400mm on apsc but Ricoh does not have it. Canon have it but it is not IS. Beyond the Canon 400mm f5.6, it's getting really expensive and heavy. I also considered the DA560 but I'm not impressed with the image quality at this price, it does not seem to be good value for me, the DA560 is almost the price of a Canon 500 f4 that I saw recently in a shop but the Canon is faster and better optically. Then considering the zooms: DFA150-450, no more reach than my DA300+TC, and no much sharper... and the DFA is heavier, so I stay with the DA300 TC combo that I already have. So, I also considered the Sigma 150-600 S, which I suppose would be a little sharper than the DFA150-450 but still not as good as a prime on apsc body, but... if I mounted a Siggy 150-600 S on a ff body, 600mm f6.3 would be like 400mm f4.5 on my K-3... so that would meet my goal, and the sigma 150-600 is not as expensive as a long prime, but then the Sigma 150-600 is not available in K mount (on a K-1 for example). So, I'm stuck. I recently had a look a the price of fluorite telescope such as Borg + field flatener + T mount... which in essence would deliver a better IQ than the DA560, similar reach, but cheaper and manual focus.
You've forgotten the 150-450 and TC option. Although I have to say, those Canon 500 ƒ4s look really nice when i see them in the field. I get better images much of the time by walking in a bit closer with my 60-250 and TC. I live in an area with a lot of cover and under brush, so long glass can be really limiting.
But , narrow it down to what you want, and price it out with the body you want.
---------- Post added 03-10-16 at 04:02 PM ----------
Originally posted by luftfluss Norm is the Head Department Head of the Department of Repetitive Redundancies Department.
Anyway, I have a K-01 and K-5 II and no intent of "upgrading" to a new camera - a choice not included in the poll.
Come on, no one else posted a poll. You know how I like to find out what everyone is thinking.
I can't keep track of all those opinions I read, in those other threads. I only remember the last one. With a poll, I don't have to, the computer does the percentages.