My DA 55-300 test shots

Ed in GA · 04-30-2008, 10:37 AM

These are purely test shots. They have no artistic, social or redeeming value/quality.

All are jpg 14.2MP, natural setting and no pp, other than cropping, has been done.

55mm ISO 800 f/5.6 1/4000

300mm ISO 800 f/5.8 1/4000

heavy crop

55mm ISO 800 f/5.6 1/4000

300mm ISO 800 f/5.8 1/4000

Heavy Crop

55mm ISO 800 f/5.6 1/4000

300mm ISO800 f/5.8 1/4000

Heavy Crop

I tried to take shots that were wide open at the long end in an attempt to expose any PF problems.

The IQ and resolution from the lens looks pretty good and, unless my old eyes deceive me, there is no Purple Fringing.

All were taken hand held which is why the ISO is so high.

Ed

Last edited by Ed in GA; 04-30-2008 at 12:09 PM.

BBear · 04-30-2008, 10:47 AM

First, thanks for taking the time posting these.

Few questions: did u have to adjust the focus manually or were all those AF? It seems like the focus was spot on, which is great.

I think u have or had a 70-300 (sigma or tamron) didnt you? any feelings on how the DA compares to the sigma/tamron?

Thanks mate!

séamuis · 04-30-2008, 10:49 AM

I was just down there the other day. we should meet up sometime, would be great to shoot with another pentaxian.

Ed in GA · 04-30-2008, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by BBear

First, thanks for taking the time posting these.

Few questions: did u have to adjust the focus manually or were all those AF? It seems like the focus was spot on, which is great.

I think u have or had a 70-300 (sigma or tamron) didnt you? any feelings on how the DA compares to the sigma/tamron?

Thanks mate!

The were all AF, I did not touch up the focus on any of them.

The DA 55-300 and Tamron 70-300 are about the same in weight and size. The Tamron, as do all of the 70-300 Tamrons, had PF issues.

However, the Tamron did have Macro capability where the Pentax lens does not.

Ed

Ed in GA · 04-30-2008, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by séamuis

I was just down there the other day. we should meet up sometime, would be great to shoot with another pentaxian.

We will have to do that sometime soon.

I'll PM you cell phone # soon and we can hook up.

Ed

simonkit · 04-30-2008, 10:57 AM

Myself & many others I'm sure are currently looking through all the available info on the new 55-300 - I'm looking for a viable alternative to my Sigma 70-300 APO (having already swapped it from a Tamron). A bit more sharpness & no/little PF at the long-end & the Pentax will be a winner for me

simon

maxwell1295 · 04-30-2008, 11:27 AM

Well, after seeing this thread and the other 55-300 thread with pics, I am officially sick!

I just got the Tammy 70-300mm and I'm seriously thinking about returning and pulling the string on one of these. The absence of PF (even when trying to produce) is enough to sway me. I'll take a few days to shoot with the Tammy to decide whether I want to do that or not. After picking up the FA50/1.4, Sigma 17-70, and the Tammy last week, I might not be ready to fork over an additional $200 for the 55-300. It sure does look tempting though...

heatherslightbox · 04-30-2008, 11:40 AM

It definitely looks like a winner to me.

Even the cropped images look good. Once I get the money, I may just have to press to "go" button on this one.

Heather

ve2vfd · 04-30-2008, 11:50 AM

Shhhh don't tell anyone, but I have one on order

Seems they are flying off the shelves like crazy.

Pat

Fritz · 04-30-2008, 11:52 AM

Thanks for taking those Ed, they look really good to me! I've been looking for a lens in that 300mm range and I think this one will do what I want at a decent price. Did you get a chance to shoot a few stopped down a little? If so how do they look?

Might be time to sell the DA 50-200mm.

BBear · 04-30-2008, 12:51 PM

Originally posted by ve2vfd

Shhhh don't tell anyone, but I have one on order

Seems they are flying off the shelves like crazy.

Pat

he he he.. I dunno if I should join the boat and get the DA or just wait for the "foreclosures" on the Sigmas & Tamrons that will be flooding the markets soon...

Someone already offered me a Tamron DI for $90...

Ivan Glisin · 04-30-2008, 02:55 PM

I would like to know the same. But judging by wide open 300mm shots I would expect excellent results at f/8 and smaller.

daacon · 04-30-2008, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by Ed in GA

<snip>All were taken hand held which is why the ISO is so high.
Ed

The pics looks very good for a consumer lens, hell they just look good period.

Ed what is the default range of AUTO ISO ? What mode were you in ? AV I assume and you were forcing a wide open so the ISO was automatically set to 800 . Ths also assumes ISO was set to auto ?

willis · 04-30-2008, 03:54 PM

The pictures look good for sure.

Isn't that bridge in Charleston?

Ed in GA · 04-30-2008, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by daacon

The pics looks very good for a consumer lens, hell they just look good period.

Ed what is the default range of AUTO ISO ? What mode were you in ? AV I assume and you were forcing a wide open so the ISO was automatically set to 800 . Ths also assumes ISO was set to auto ?

Dave,

I was shooting in Av. ISO was set to 800 so that I could get a fast shutter speed. I'm a little shakey and with SR and 1/4000, I figured I'd get a good clear shot.

I always set ISO to a specific setting. I don't want the Camera to do all of the work for me.

Ivan & Fritz,

I'll try and get some good shots with the lens stopped down over the weekend and post them.

I'm pretty impressed with the wide open results. Stopped down a bit should be very nice.

Ed

04-30-2008, 10:37 AM	#1
Ed in GA Guest	My DA 55-300 test shots These are purely test shots. They have no artistic, social or redeeming value/quality. All are jpg 14.2MP, natural setting and no pp, other than cropping, has been done. 55mm ISO 800 f/5.6 1/4000 300mm ISO 800 f/5.8 1/4000 heavy crop 55mm ISO 800 f/5.6 1/4000 300mm ISO 800 f/5.8 1/4000 Heavy Crop 55mm ISO 800 f/5.6 1/4000 300mm ISO800 f/5.8 1/4000 Heavy Crop I tried to take shots that were wide open at the long end in an attempt to expose any PF problems. The IQ and resolution from the lens looks pretty good and, unless my old eyes deceive me, there is no Purple Fringing. All were taken hand held which is why the ISO is so high. Ed Last edited by Ed in GA; 04-30-2008 at 12:09 PM.

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04-30-2008, 10:47 AM	#2
BBear Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT / NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 822	First, thanks for taking the time posting these. Few questions: did u have to adjust the focus manually or were all those AF? It seems like the focus was spot on, which is great. I think u have or had a 70-300 (sigma or tamron) didnt you? any feelings on how the DA compares to the sigma/tamron? Thanks mate!

04-30-2008, 10:49 AM	#3
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	I was just down there the other day. we should meet up sometime, would be great to shoot with another pentaxian.

04-30-2008, 10:55 AM	#4
Ed in GA Guest	Originally posted by BBear First, thanks for taking the time posting these. Few questions: did u have to adjust the focus manually or were all those AF? It seems like the focus was spot on, which is great. I think u have or had a 70-300 (sigma or tamron) didnt you? any feelings on how the DA compares to the sigma/tamron? Thanks mate! The were all AF, I did not touch up the focus on any of them. The DA 55-300 and Tamron 70-300 are about the same in weight and size. The Tamron, as do all of the 70-300 Tamrons, had PF issues. However, the Tamron did have Macro capability where the Pentax lens does not. Ed

04-30-2008, 10:57 AM	#5
Ed in GA Guest	Originally posted by séamuis I was just down there the other day. we should meet up sometime, would be great to shoot with another pentaxian. We will have to do that sometime soon. I'll PM you cell phone # soon and we can hook up. Ed

04-30-2008, 10:57 AM	#6
simonkit Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 645	Myself & many others I'm sure are currently looking through all the available info on the new 55-300 - I'm looking for a viable alternative to my Sigma 70-300 APO (having already swapped it from a Tamron). A bit more sharpness & no/little PF at the long-end & the Pentax will be a winner for me simon

04-30-2008, 11:27 AM	#7
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703	Well, after seeing this thread and the other 55-300 thread with pics, I am officially sick! I just got the Tammy 70-300mm and I'm seriously thinking about returning and pulling the string on one of these. The absence of PF (even when trying to produce) is enough to sway me. I'll take a few days to shoot with the Tammy to decide whether I want to do that or not. After picking up the FA50/1.4, Sigma 17-70, and the Tammy last week, I might not be ready to fork over an additional $200 for the 55-300. It sure does look tempting though...

04-30-2008, 11:40 AM	#8
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,599	It definitely looks like a winner to me. Even the cropped images look good. Once I get the money, I may just have to press to "go" button on this one. Heather

04-30-2008, 11:50 AM	#9
ve2vfd Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,433	Shhhh don't tell anyone, but I have one on order Seems they are flying off the shelves like crazy. Pat

04-30-2008, 11:52 AM	#10
Fritz Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tillamook, OR Posts: 1,222	Thanks for taking those Ed, they look really good to me! I've been looking for a lens in that 300mm range and I think this one will do what I want at a decent price. Did you get a chance to shoot a few stopped down a little? If so how do they look? Might be time to sell the DA 50-200mm.

04-30-2008, 12:51 PM	#11
BBear Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT / NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 822	Originally posted by ve2vfd Shhhh don't tell anyone, but I have one on order Seems they are flying off the shelves like crazy. Pat he he he.. I dunno if I should join the boat and get the DA or just wait for the "foreclosures" on the Sigmas & Tamrons that will be flooding the markets soon... Someone already offered me a Tamron DI for $90...

04-30-2008, 02:55 PM	#12
Ivan Glisin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgrade Posts: 656	I would like to know the same. But judging by wide open 300mm shots I would expect excellent results at f/8 and smaller.

04-30-2008, 03:51 PM	#13
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Originally posted by Ed in GA <snip>All were taken hand held which is why the ISO is so high. Ed The pics looks very good for a consumer lens, hell they just look good period. Ed what is the default range of AUTO ISO ? What mode were you in ? AV I assume and you were forcing a wide open so the ISO was automatically set to 800 . Ths also assumes ISO was set to auto ?

04-30-2008, 03:54 PM	#14
willis Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Va Posts: 37	The pictures look good for sure. Isn't that bridge in Charleston?

04-30-2008, 04:21 PM	#15
Ed in GA Guest	Originally posted by daacon The pics looks very good for a consumer lens, hell they just look good period. Ed what is the default range of AUTO ISO ? What mode were you in ? AV I assume and you were forcing a wide open so the ISO was automatically set to 800 . Ths also assumes ISO was set to auto ? Dave, I was shooting in Av. ISO was set to 800 so that I could get a fast shutter speed. I'm a little shakey and with SR and 1/4000, I figured I'd get a good clear shot. I always set ISO to a specific setting. I don't want the Camera to do all of the work for me. Ivan & Fritz, I'll try and get some good shots with the lens stopped down over the weekend and post them. I'm pretty impressed with the wide open results. Stopped down a bit should be very nice. Ed