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forestG · 03-21-2009, 03:37 AM

Well I'm lucky enough to have a 300 on loan as a test/trial run and I must say that, although the lens has a hefty $tag among others of this caliber and mount, and my copy has a bit of dirt on the inner elements, and the focus is a tad rough in manual, and hunting is an issue if your all the way up the other end to start with, (It’s one that gets lent out, a demo version if you like-holds value but not so much) this lens, is in a word, “marvelous”
My thinking is, if you need a 300 and own a Pentax then get one of these.
Nuff Said.

forestG · 03-21-2009, 04:23 AM

100% crop
1/200 f5.6 160iso

fwcetus · 03-21-2009, 05:41 AM

Originally posted by forestG

and my copy has a bit of dirt on the inner elements

Whaaa...? I thought these were supposed to be reasonably weather-sealed, and not likely to pick up "a bit of dirt" inside.

From what I have seen, though, the optical design is indeed a good one - if I weren't already a frequent F* 300/4.5 user, I'd be lusting after one... ;-)

forestG · 03-21-2009, 05:48 AM

just to clarify this is a factory second for 'have a crack' use only , its been around a bit, no external marks, its mint otherwise

cooldude14es · 03-21-2009, 08:16 AM

I am really thinking about buying one, but I dont know if it is another LBA attack, I think it is too long for my everyday photos and too short for nature...

Otherwise it is a wonderful lens.

forestG · 03-21-2009, 01:56 PM

yep in the back-yard its a little long but out on the street it does open up a whole new world, perfect for wild life i think. Its heavy and is hard to hold steady but with a couple hours in the hand i'm getting it down pat

**Eaglerapids** · 03-21-2009, 08:16 PM

I couldn't agree more forestG. Cooldude, I believe you'd be amazed with it's versatility, I love it's close focusing abilities.
And here's a good excuse to post this pic:-). I just got the K20D and wanted to see both how well you can crop with this sensor and, in this photo, how well it handles ISO400. So the DA* 300/4 and Spike both jumped up to the plate.

K20D, DA*300/4, f4, 1/500sec, ISO400, cropped to what Lightroom calls 1:1. Pretty sure it's a 100% crop if I understand this right, I call it 100%.

Shot on a tripod, but it's hard to catch Spike not moving, real hard:-).

cooldude14es · 03-22-2009, 05:37 AM

And is there any optical improvement when comparing it with a F*300 or FA*300?

Thanks.

**Michaelina2** · 03-22-2009, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by cooldude14es

And is there any optical improvement when comparing it with a F*300 or FA*300?

Thanks.

Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it?

Cheers...

fwcetus · 03-22-2009, 07:10 AM

Originally posted by Michaelina2

Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it?

Well, there are a lot ~more~ examples out there, and, as an F*300/4.5 user (who admittedly has never actually handled a DA* 300/4), I have seen enough images to convince me that the DA* 300/4 is a comparable lens to the F*/FA* 300/4.5 optically.

cooldude14es · 03-22-2009, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by Michaelina2

Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it?

Cheers...

Obviously DA*300mm is an amazing lens, but my question was if there is any difference between all three (DA*, FA* and F* 300mm) optically speaking.

cooldude14es · 03-22-2009, 07:26 AM

Originally posted by fwcetus

Well, there are a lot ~more~ examples out there, and, as an F*300/4.5 user (who admittedly has never actually handled a DA* 300/4), I have seen enough images to convince me that the DA* 300/4 is a comparable lens to the F*/FA* 300/4.5 optically.

So it seems that F*/FA* 300 f4.5 were considered the best of the best in the 300mm range.

palmor · 03-22-2009, 08:27 AM

How about a 100% crop WITH the Kenko 1.5x TC attached and only stopped down 1 stop (f/5.6)

**Eaglerapids** · 03-22-2009, 09:13 AM

At ISO 800 to boot Palmor! Awesome, oh my this 20D rocks:-).

**Michaelina2** · 03-22-2009, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by Eaglerapids

At ISO 800 to boot Palmor! Awesome, oh my this 20D rocks:-).

Looks like it's time to update the ol' sig... eh?

(You're gonna love the K20D)

Cheers...

03-21-2009, 03:37 AM	#1
forestG Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: melb, au Photos: Gallery Posts: 100	*a quick note on the DA300** Well I'm lucky enough to have a 300 on loan as a test/trial run and I must say that, although the lens has a hefty $tag among others of this caliber and mount, and my copy has a bit of dirt on the inner elements, and the focus is a tad rough in manual, and hunting is an issue if your all the way up the other end to start with, (It’s one that gets lent out, a demo version if you like-holds value but not so much) this lens, is in a word, “marvelous” My thinking is, if you need a 300 and own a Pentax then get one of these. Nuff Said.

03-21-2009, 04:23 AM	#2
forestG Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: melb, au Photos: Gallery Posts: 100 Original Poster	100% crop 1/200 f5.6 160iso Attached Images

03-22-2009, 06:58 AM	#9
Michaelina2 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SE Michigan USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,302	Uhhhh...? Originally posted by cooldude14es And is there any optical improvement when comparing it with a F300 or FA300? Thanks. Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it? Cheers...

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03-21-2009, 05:41 AM	#3
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	Originally posted by forestG and my copy has a bit of dirt on the inner elements Whaaa...? I thought these were supposed to be reasonably weather-sealed, and not likely to pick up "a bit of dirt" inside. From what I have seen, though, the optical design is indeed a good one - if I weren't already a frequent F* 300/4.5 user, I'd be lusting after one... ;-)

03-21-2009, 05:48 AM	#4
forestG Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: melb, au Photos: Gallery Posts: 100 Original Poster	just to clarify this is a factory second for 'have a crack' use only , its been around a bit, no external marks, its mint otherwise

03-21-2009, 08:16 AM	#5
cooldude14es Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 264	I am really thinking about buying one, but I dont know if it is another LBA attack, I think it is too long for my everyday photos and too short for nature... Otherwise it is a wonderful lens.

03-21-2009, 01:56 PM	#6
forestG Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: melb, au Photos: Gallery Posts: 100 Original Poster	yep in the back-yard its a little long but out on the street it does open up a whole new world, perfect for wild life i think. Its heavy and is hard to hold steady but with a couple hours in the hand i'm getting it down pat

03-21-2009, 08:16 PM	#7
Eaglerapids Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho,USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,619	I couldn't agree more forestG. Cooldude, I believe you'd be amazed with it's versatility, I love it's close focusing abilities. And here's a good excuse to post this pic:-). I just got the K20D and wanted to see both how well you can crop with this sensor and, in this photo, how well it handles ISO400. So the DA* 300/4 and Spike both jumped up to the plate. K20D, DA*300/4, f4, 1/500sec, ISO400, cropped to what Lightroom calls 1:1. Pretty sure it's a 100% crop if I understand this right, I call it 100%. Shot on a tripod, but it's hard to catch Spike not moving, real hard:-).

03-22-2009, 05:37 AM	#8
cooldude14es Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 264	And is there any optical improvement when comparing it with a F300 or FA300? Thanks.

03-22-2009, 07:10 AM	#10
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	Originally posted by Michaelina2 Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it? Well, there are a lot ~more~ examples out there, and, as an F300/4.5 user (who admittedly has never actually handled a DA 300/4), I have seen enough images to convince me that the DA* 300/4 is a comparable lens to the F/FA 300/4.5 optically.

03-22-2009, 07:23 AM	#11
cooldude14es Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 264	Originally posted by Michaelina2 Given the examples in this post, how much better do you want it? Cheers... Obviously DA300mm is an amazing lens, but my question was if there is any difference between all three (DA, FA* and F* 300mm) optically speaking.

03-22-2009, 07:26 AM	#12
cooldude14es Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 264	Originally posted by fwcetus Well, there are a lot ~more~ examples out there, and, as an F300/4.5 user (who admittedly has never actually handled a DA 300/4), I have seen enough images to convince me that the DA* 300/4 is a comparable lens to the F/FA 300/4.5 optically. So it seems that F/FA 300 f4.5 were considered the best of the best in the 300mm range.

03-22-2009, 08:27 AM	#13
palmor Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North of Boston, MA Posts: 798	How about a 100% crop WITH the Kenko 1.5x TC attached and only stopped down 1 stop (f/5.6)

03-22-2009, 09:13 AM	#14
Eaglerapids Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho,USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,619	At ISO 800 to boot Palmor! Awesome, oh my this 20D rocks:-).

03-22-2009, 11:33 AM	#15
Michaelina2 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SE Michigan USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,302	Originally posted by Eaglerapids At ISO 800 to boot Palmor! Awesome, oh my this 20D rocks:-). Looks like it's time to update the ol' sig... eh? (You're gonna love the K20D) Cheers...

a quick note on the DA*300

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