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cali92rs · 04-19-2012, 11:24 AM - **1 Like**

...for this week at least

I just love the way it looks, feels and renders.

The downside is using my K-5 with this lens though (not this lens specifically, but manual lenses in general). It is difficult to shoot action using manual focus with this camera because the VF is mediocre at best and there is lag when using Live View.
Even when I got focus confirmation (hexagon and beep), focus was still off.

But when I nailed focus, it is a sharp one!
Here are some snaps I made at rainy, muddy Santa Anita Racetrack last week.

slackercruster · 04-19-2012, 11:26 AM

Nice stuff!

Mareket · 04-19-2012, 12:00 PM

Wow O_O great shots!

cali92rs · 04-19-2012, 12:10 PM

Thank you guys...
The interesting part is that I got waaaaay more keepers with the M* manual focusing than I did with my new DA*50-135mm autofocusing. The DA* was back focusing like crazy. I have to adjust my focus with that guy.

Marc Sabatella · 04-19-2012, 12:19 PM

Chances are almost zero that you actual backfocus issues that would be visible in a picture of a horse - BF issues are measured in millimeters, not meters. Most likely, the camera just had trouble focusing on the moving horses and simlly chose to focus on the background.

joe.penn · 04-19-2012, 12:20 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

Thank you guys...
The interesting part is that I got waaaaay more keepers with the M* manual focusing than I did with my new DA*50-135mm autofocusing. The DA* was back focusing like crazy. I have to adjust my focus with that guy.

Your hit rate should be double if not better using any MF lens (with CIF) against a DA* lens in AF when shooting moving action and more so if shooting race horses - I find shooting the 50~135 in MF with CIF enabled I can get a near perfect "in focus" hit rate as opposed to maybe a 10% in focus hit rate with AF. Sorry to note this again but SDM is near worthless shooting any kind of moving action sports, HSM seems to be blazing fast and spot on.

Love the pictures - #4 is awesome!

L33tGreg · 04-19-2012, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by joe.penn

Your hit rate should be double if not better using any MF lens (with CIF) against a DA* lens in AF when shooting moving action and more so if shooting race horses - I find shooting the 50~135 in MF with CIF enabled I can get a near perfect "in focus" hit rate as opposed to maybe a 10% in focus hit rate with AF. Sorry to note this again but SDM is near worthless shooting any kind of moving action sports, HSM seems to be blazing fast and spot on.

Love the pictures - #4 is awesome!

I don't see how this is possible. Doesn't CIF require an MF lens to be mounted with the focus setting set to AF-S?

joe.penn · 04-19-2012, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by L33tGreg

I don't see how this is possible. Doesn't CIF require an MF lens to be mounted with the focus setting set to AF-S?

Yes, CIF requires a MF lens to be mounted with the focus setting set to AF-S.

When using a DA* Lens or an HSM lens, when turning the "Lens Switch" to MF it tells the body that a MF lens is attached thus enabling the use of CIF...

8540tomg · 04-19-2012, 03:12 PM

Looks like a great addition to your collection Ken.

Enjoy it.

Tom G

cali92rs · 04-19-2012, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

Chances are almost zero that you actual backfocus issues that would be visible in a picture of a horse - BF issues are measured in millimeters, not meters. Most likely, the camera just had trouble focusing on the moving horses and simlly chose to focus on the background.

Thanks for the heads-up Marc. That does make sense.
I will do some semi-controlled tests to see what I actually have.

MegaPower · 04-21-2012, 07:29 AM

It is a very nice lens, I have the brother lens A*300/4 and I am keeping it for sure.

**Lowell Goudge** · 04-21-2012, 09:30 AM

you should get a 1.7x AF TC for it

littledrawe · 04-21-2012, 09:37 AM

Originally posted by cali92rs

M* 300mm f/4 = My Favorite Lens...

Its so stupid that these didn't have tripod mounts on them, the A* too. Have you tried using one of the canon knockoff tripod mounts to see if they fit?

cali92rs · 04-21-2012, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

you should get a 1.7x AF TC for it

If you lend me the $450, I will be sure to get it

Sarcasm aside, it would've been nice at the racetrack to have AF, but it wouldve been too much reach for that situation. But i am definitely intersted in that piece....down the road

Also, I want to wait to see if the new TC actually sees the light of day.

MegaPower · 04-21-2012, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

If you lend me the $450, I will be sure to get it

Sarcasm aside, it would've been nice at the racetrack to have AF, but it wouldve been too much reach for that situation. But i am definitely intersted in that piece....down the road

Also, I want to wait to see if the new TC actually sees the light of day.

with the AF 1.7x TC, you can do close focus up to about 1.5m~2m

04-19-2012, 11:24 AM - 1 Like	#1
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	*M 300mm f/4 = My Favorite Lens...** ...for this week at least I just love the way it looks, feels and renders. The downside is using my K-5 with this lens though (not this lens specifically, but manual lenses in general). It is difficult to shoot action using manual focus with this camera because the VF is mediocre at best and there is lag when using Live View. Even when I got focus confirmation (hexagon and beep), focus was still off. But when I nailed focus, it is a sharp one! Here are some snaps I made at rainy, muddy Santa Anita Racetrack last week.

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04-19-2012, 11:26 AM	#2
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302	Nice stuff!

04-19-2012, 12:00 PM	#3
Mareket Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 719	Wow O_O great shots!

04-19-2012, 12:10 PM	#4
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354 Original Poster	Thank you guys... The interesting part is that I got waaaaay more keepers with the M* manual focusing than I did with my new DA50-135mm autofocusing. The DA was back focusing like crazy. I have to adjust my focus with that guy.

04-19-2012, 12:19 PM	#5
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Chances are almost zero that you actual backfocus issues that would be visible in a picture of a horse - BF issues are measured in millimeters, not meters. Most likely, the camera just had trouble focusing on the moving horses and simlly chose to focus on the background.

04-19-2012, 12:20 PM	#6
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by cali92rs Thank you guys... The interesting part is that I got waaaaay more keepers with the M* manual focusing than I did with my new DA50-135mm autofocusing. The DA was back focusing like crazy. I have to adjust my focus with that guy. Your hit rate should be double if not better using any MF lens (with CIF) against a DA* lens in AF when shooting moving action and more so if shooting race horses - I find shooting the 50~135 in MF with CIF enabled I can get a near perfect "in focus" hit rate as opposed to maybe a 10% in focus hit rate with AF. Sorry to note this again but SDM is near worthless shooting any kind of moving action sports, HSM seems to be blazing fast and spot on. Love the pictures - #4 is awesome!

04-19-2012, 12:57 PM	#7
L33tGreg Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Photos: Gallery Posts: 369	Originally posted by joe.penn Your hit rate should be double if not better using any MF lens (with CIF) against a DA* lens in AF when shooting moving action and more so if shooting race horses - I find shooting the 50~135 in MF with CIF enabled I can get a near perfect "in focus" hit rate as opposed to maybe a 10% in focus hit rate with AF. Sorry to note this again but SDM is near worthless shooting any kind of moving action sports, HSM seems to be blazing fast and spot on. Love the pictures - #4 is awesome! I don't see how this is possible. Doesn't CIF require an MF lens to be mounted with the focus setting set to AF-S?

04-19-2012, 01:08 PM	#8
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by L33tGreg I don't see how this is possible. Doesn't CIF require an MF lens to be mounted with the focus setting set to AF-S? Yes, CIF requires a MF lens to be mounted with the focus setting set to AF-S. When using a DA* Lens or an HSM lens, when turning the "Lens Switch" to MF it tells the body that a MF lens is attached thus enabling the use of CIF...

04-19-2012, 03:12 PM	#9
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Looks like a great addition to your collection Ken. Enjoy it. Tom G

04-19-2012, 05:45 PM	#10
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354 Original Poster	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella Chances are almost zero that you actual backfocus issues that would be visible in a picture of a horse - BF issues are measured in millimeters, not meters. Most likely, the camera just had trouble focusing on the moving horses and simlly chose to focus on the background. Thanks for the heads-up Marc. That does make sense. I will do some semi-controlled tests to see what I actually have.

04-21-2012, 07:29 AM	#11
MegaPower Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 636	It is a very nice lens, I have the brother lens A*300/4 and I am keeping it for sure.

04-21-2012, 09:30 AM	#12
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	you should get a 1.7x AF TC for it

04-21-2012, 09:37 AM	#13
littledrawe Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Red Rock Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,514	Originally posted by cali92rs M* 300mm f/4 = My Favorite Lens... Its so stupid that these didn't have tripod mounts on them, the A* too. Have you tried using one of the canon knockoff tripod mounts to see if they fit?

04-21-2012, 10:53 AM	#14
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354 Original Poster	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge you should get a 1.7x AF TC for it If you lend me the $450, I will be sure to get it Sarcasm aside, it would've been nice at the racetrack to have AF, but it wouldve been too much reach for that situation. But i am definitely intersted in that piece....down the road Also, I want to wait to see if the new TC actually sees the light of day.

04-21-2012, 04:39 PM	#15
MegaPower Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 636	Originally posted by cali92rs If you lend me the $450, I will be sure to get it Sarcasm aside, it would've been nice at the racetrack to have AF, but it wouldve been too much reach for that situation. But i am definitely intersted in that piece....down the road Also, I want to wait to see if the new TC actually sees the light of day. with the AF 1.7x TC, you can do close focus up to about 1.5m~2m