|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-12-2014, 04:51 PM
|
| |
Well, here in central Canada in the winter we are not seeing anything quite as colourful as the wildlife in Singapore or as majestic as our west coast eagles! Heck, I haven't even been successful in catching a Snowy Owl. But, I did manage to capture one of our local species in a classic pose after waiting a while for the right light.
- Craig
K52_4905_v1_nuthatch by c.a.m_1, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-12-2014, 04:09 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-11-2014, 06:46 AM
|
| |
Spotted Wood Owl Shot with Sigma 100-300 F4
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-11-2014, 06:07 AM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
03-08-2014, 02:43 PM
|
| |
Some of the same old same old from today.
 .
 .
 .
 |
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
03-08-2014, 09:20 AM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-06-2014, 01:10 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-06-2014, 06:24 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-05-2014, 06:40 PM
|
| |
Good point about quietness - the silent nature of the DA*300 is great for wildlife of any kind.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-05-2014, 03:32 PM
|
| |
I traded in my DA 55 - 300 for a DA* 200 and even though I lost 100 mm it actually works better for birding than the 55 - 300. Quietness of SDM helps but the faster aperture and better sharpness really helped. I do wish I went for the DA* 300 instead of the 200 though. More than likely instead of getting a 300 I will probably get the TC which will make my DA* almost equivalent to the DA* 300. Where did you take those duck pictures? I have lived in Brooklyn for 30 years of my life and never saw a Hooded Merganser or a Northern Shoveler there. I now live in Rockland County NY and these ducks are fairly common here. Good shot of the hoodie, they are very difficult to approach.
Derekkite: Nice shot of the Common Merganser and ducklings. They too are hard to approach.
Regards,
John
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-05-2014, 11:46 AM
|
| |
The sharper the lens the better the crops. Unsharpness gets worse in crops.
DA* 300 crops.. Not birds, but very related. :)
 |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-05-2014, 04:25 AM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-05-2014, 03:25 AM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 11:00 PM
|
| |
With apologies to James Coburn and Charles Bronson:
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 09:05 PM
|
| |
I do not own the 55-300 but I do own the DA*300. Simply put, it's a marvelous lens. I don't do birding myself but do love zoos; sometimes the lens has just a bit too much reach for that, but when that's not an issue, the lens's quality is impeccable.
Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of animals I can upload at the moment, but here's a bunch of photos from a high school hockey game I attended a few days ago. It was my first time to shoot sports ever. (And boy, it's hard to pick a bigger challenge than hockey!) These were shot wide-open at f/4 at 1/400 sec with ISO1600 on a K-5 IIs. All were handheld.
Please excuse the less than perfect framing. In addition to being my first time shooting such a scene, the lens had a little bit too much length for the small arena. I tried to back up a little, but that didn't help much (poor angle). 250mm would have been perfect, but all I have is 70-200 and 300. These are JPEGs straight from the camera.
You can get to a full-sized version by clicking on the image; feel free to pixel peep away.
 |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 07:50 PM
|
| |
I have both and the 55-300 stays at home. The 55-300 is ok at f8, the DA*300 is sharp at f4. This opens up the opportunity to shoot on lower light days without having to push the iso.
The DA*300 really shines on the K-3. These shots are on the K-5.
 |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 07:09 PM
|
| |
I've had a DA55-300 for quite a while and just go the DA*300 a couple months ago. I haven't had the chance to take a lot with the 300 yet, but I've already seen that I can get results at F4 in low light.. The 55-300 is sharp at at f7.1 or f8 with good light, but it has to be good light. I think the difference is significant unless conditions are perfect, then it may be a little closer.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 06:57 PM
|
| |
Since you are new to birding i would wait a year or two for several reasons. First, allow your skills to develop and see where you are headed photographically. Most bird photographers desire longer focal lengths than 300mm as they grow skills. I'd also wait until Pentax releases longer lenses. This will coordinate with any sports shooting requirements as your son grows. For all of his sports until he hits 10-12, your existing lenses are quite sufficient.
M
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 06:37 PM
|
| |
It's hard to provide a side-by side comparison, but although I have been really happy with my DA 55-300, the results from the DA*300 are noticeably better and will stand cropping more. I also have a Promaster 70-300 which I believe is a rebadged Tamron - the colour and contrast from the Promaster is not as good as the DA 55-300 let alone the DA*300. However, the Promaster is quite sharp and the focussing is quicker than the DA 55-300. Of course the Promaster can't come near the DA*300 in any respect. :D
With reference to the above I have taken plenty of photos at 300mm on the DA55-300 and on my copy it's surprisingly good. I'm not expecting to make poster prints from the results. The DA 55-300 is far more convenient as a travelling lens than the DA*300 simply due to the weight. I am still using it when I travel.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 06:11 PM
|
| |
Of course I have no examples to prove it, but the DA* 300 is a large difference and well worth selling the 70-200. I own both the DA-L 55-300 and the DA*300. Absolutely love the 55-300, just not at 300. I try to keep it under 250, mostly restrict it to f8 and 190mm.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 05:42 PM
|
| |
I know nothing... but the question I would be asking is , is your Tamron 70-200 better than your 55-300. I never advise people to ditch a 2.8 lens in favour of a slower lens... but that lens has had quality control problems, maybe you should have it serviced before you write it off. I'm thinking with the new TC it could solve your problems, and having a zoom for telephoto work is much easier cropping than with a prime. People say frame with your feet, but with a long lens, sometimes you'd have to walk 100 meters.
That being said, I can't answer your question, I don't have either lens, and you need someone who has both, and has taken some side by side images to compare. That might be a tough assignment. I wouldn't take my opinion with a rain of salt, or anyone else's that is in speculation mode. The only opinion that matters is the one of someone with both lenses.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2014, 05:39 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
03-04-2014, 06:17 PM
|
| |
K-3 + Sigma 50-500mm
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
02-22-2014, 07:53 AM
|
| |
Great capture there and nice DOF ... TFS, J
|
