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Forum: Lens Clubs 04-14-2013, 11:42 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello All,

I would like to thank everyone who looked, commented and complimented on my posts.

In case I failed to reply to any questions, it is unintentional and I apologise.

I still have to get more familiar with the lens, and there is still so much I haven't tried.

I haven't taken a single shot with my K10D eg., and only a handful of shots with my K20D.

I haven't tried my Tamron 1.4x and 2x yet, and also my Pentax Q on it.

And then there is still so much to do with the QK Adapter that I wanted to try out.

I will be very inactive for a long time.

Best regards to all,

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-14-2013, 11:22 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello Greyser,

For a while I too was concerned about the MFD, then I realised that when I shoot the Blue-eared KF with my Nikon it is at the same distance (although MFD is shorter still). I did not go closer because the bird is already quite big in the frame and I want to leave some space for when they catch a fish.

For even closer encounters there is always my DA* 300 by my side.

No hard feelings, why should there be any.
Many years ago, in the film camera days, my first tele lens was the Sigma 500mm F/4.5 (manual focus) and I enjoyed
using it for 7/8 years before selling it.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-14-2013, 11:04 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello Frogfish,

Nikon 300mm F/2.8 + 2x TC = 600mm F/5.6.
Also a Nikon 300mm F/4 + 1.4x TC = 420mm F/5.6 (this combination is very seldom on a tripod, mainly for handholding)
Camera - currently a D300s with no replacement in sight, only rumours of a D400.

I guess you did not notice that the Blue-eared KF is soaking wet ? They plunge into the stream for fish.
Hair, fur and feathers tend to clump together when wet, so you won't get to see as much fine detail.
The KF is in the shade under a clump of bamboo trees while your Bellbird appears to be in relatively good light.

You also need to be cautious in comparing feather detail on different species of birds, their feather design and construction is different and so are wing shapes, and are meant to cater for different habits and flight patterns. Climatic conditions and the environment in which they live also affect the design, construction and composition of various types of feathers.

Birds that glide a lot (eg. vultures), birds that depend on agility to hunt in tight spaces (eg. goshawks) and birds that depend on silent flight (eg. owls) all have different feather designs, just to name a few.

As such, I have always advised against comparing the feather detail that can be seen in photographs of different species of birds.
Much less, when they are taken with different brands of cameras, with different sensor resolutions and different focal length lenses. Throw in other variations/differences like the quality and angle of light, ISO used, shutter speeds, apertures, RAWs, jpegs, software etc. etc. ... and what we end up with is a veritable nightmare.

And I personally, will give up trying to gleen any useful information from such comparisons.
I would just sit back and enjoy, looking at those beautiful images created by other photographers.

And Frogfish, you have a beautiful picture of a Bellbird there. I have not seen this bird, but love the blue, purple and violet colours on the plumage.

The resolving power of the 560mm at distance -

Haven't done much shooting at 20-30m yet. The Whiskered Tern I posted is at that range. I have a single shot of a Grey Heron shot at more than 30m, but that is a large bird. I have shots of Pink-necked Pigeons and Peaceful Doves, but those are shot at less than 20m. Haven't posted these yet. I have a couple of BIFs of raptors both at around 20-30m but these are lage birds.

As for thrushes - have not shot any with the 560mm yet.
As for waders - have not shot any with the 560mm yet. But instead I am thinking of trying out the Pentax Q + QK Adapter + DA* 300mm combo with these.
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 04-12-2013, 10:28 AM  
Hello from Malaysia
Posted By Hock
Replies: 16
Views: 1,272
Hello kerrowdown,

I will be getting my own closer to year-end. :(

The one I shot with was sent down to Pentax Malaysia because they are attending a major birding event here (Raptor Watch 2013). The instruction manual is in Mandarin (Chinese) so I guess it was initially meant for China, Taiwan or Hongkong. I guess Pentax Malaysia must have insisted very strongly to get one meant for another country.

Initial production units usually go to Pentax's major markets first, like Japan, USA, Europe, China, ...
Malaysia is usually very near the bottom for new stuff to be shipped here.

Wow, I just noticed that you have a fantastic collection of A lenses. These are next to impossible/impossible to find here. Should have taken you some time to find them.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 12:53 PM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello Lowell,

Thanks for complements.

If not because of my own curiosity, I normally would not be shooting at speeds of less than 1/200th second.
I am actually taking a risk of not getting a picture in order to test the SR.

It is with great relief that I all done with SR now, and go back to just taking pictures, instead of trying to see how low can I go with shutter speeds.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 12:33 PM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello VisualDarkness,

Thanks for compliments.

For a long time now I have not thought about Pentax's SR, since about 3 months after I got my first Pentax D-SLR, a K10D. It works and work very well.

That is until I hold the 560mm lens in my hands. I have not used anything of that focal length on my Pentax D-SLRs before.

So I slowly begin to lower my shutter speeds, whenever I can, just to see what SR can do.
I can now go back to my former state of tranquility and not think about it anymore. :D

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 12:03 PM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello stormtech,

You are welcome.

What I wrote is also for myself. Justification for purchase. :D
All new lenses launched nowadays are not what I would call inexpensive. Many are double or more, the cost of older models they replace/update.

I need to write down my thoughts, I need to be clear (to myself) that it is not lens lust for making the purchase.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 11:46 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello C_Rockies,

Thanks for compliments.
Like many Pentaxians I needed to know what I am getting for my money.

I shot a lot at F/5.6 because I know that anything smaller will only get better. I am delighted at what this lens can do wide open. I too look closely at low contrast detail rendering. All wildlife photogs have to deal with hair, fur and feathers and so low contrast details are important.

Lens Test Charts mostly contain high contrast elements that I have difficulty relating back to the subjects I normally shoot.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 11:23 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello All,

Summary of my thoughts.

1.) Wide open aperture -
F/5.6 is fully usable with the subjects that I shoot. If low light conditions dictate that I use F/5.6, I will not hesitate.
The lens' ability to resolve fine details @ F/5.6 is very good indeed. My own Nikon equivalent outfit could not do better.

Noticeable purple fringing with high contrast scenes (usually BIFs), less at F/8. Have not shot at F/11 at all, so no idea.

2.) Pentax's SR -
I see no reason to doubt the effectiveness of Pentax's sensor-based SR with a 560mm lens.
I am aware of discussions about in-lens versus in-body Shake Reduction.
Until tested under fire - shooting subjects I photograph regularly - I too, have no idea how effective SR will be with a 560mm lens. I don't have any doubts now.

Since I have to deal with flapping wings, fluttering feathers, twitching tails, swaying branches and generally uncooperative subjects, I tend to use higher shutter speeds most of the time. Meaning I have very few chances to shoot at 1/60th second and below.

I shall leave it to photogs who shoot immovable subjects to test Pentax's claim of up to 4-stops effectiveness.

By the way in-lens SR makes no difference to me.

Like I said, my subjects dictate the minimum speeds that I can use. They mostly don't stay still, and other factors like wind blowing meant that I seldom have the chance to shoot at 1/60th second and below.

I would imagine that sport photogs will be in the same position.
Shooting long teles like 560mm at speeds of 1/500th second and above, will mean that SR seldom comes into play,
if at all.

3.) Handholding -
Look around your vicinity for additional support and items to brace yourself with - a tree trunk, a fence, a rock, your car
etc. I sit, go on my belly, used my knee(s) ... I do whatever possible to ensure a successful shot.

Having said that, I use my tripod whenever possible and only handhold if location, the subject and circumstances do not
allow me to deploy my tripod.

4.) Focus Limiter Switch -
I use this very often on the lens.
Wish there was one on my DA* 300mm. Regretted there were also none on the DA 100mm Macro WR, DA* 200mm and DA* 60-250mm. This will be so useful to speed up AF.

There is another way to do this.

The new Sony A99 has a focus limit function built into the body. Users can set the focus limit steplessly.
This will mean that every lens attached to the A99 can be focus limited without needing a physical/mechanical switch built into the lens. AF subject acquisition speed is bound to improve a lot, hunting will be almost non-existant.

This is a great feature I hope to see designed into Pentax cameras. Better still, that it can be implemented through a
firmware update for older and current cameras. (Fingers tightly crossed.)


Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 11:02 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello All,

Another shot @ F/5.6 showing very good detail.
Normally I would be shooting @ F/8 but to get to know this lens better, I am shooting more @ F/5.6.
Those Pentaxians shooting with K-5 IIs will be in feather-detail heaven.
Can't wait for the new 24mp camera to be launched.

Black-crowned Night-Heron. (Size: 2 ft.)
Tripod mounted. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 10:58 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello All,

This is a small kingfisher of the Alcedo family.
2nd pix is @ F/5.6, both shot very close to minimum focus. I have maybe 1 foot left before I run into trouble.

Blue-eared Kingfisher (male). (Size: 6.25 ins.)
Tripod mounted. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 10:54 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello All,

Terns are small fast flying birds with a somewhat erratic flying pattern.
I am happy with the continuous AF's ability to track this bird. Difficult with only one AF point but doable.
That doesn't mean that I won't be delighted if given a tight cluster of 9 AF points in the center for BIF.
Again I am just testing the water shooting @ F/6.3.

Whiskered Tern (breeding plumage). (Size: 10 ins.)
Tripod mounted. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 10:35 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello Frogfish,

Yes, I will brace myself with whatever conveniently available. And yes engine is off.

For this shot, lens-arm is resting on car door window sill. I only got 3 shots before the bird took off. Did I mention that this is a very shy bird ? :)

Distance is about 25-30 feet.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 10:25 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello derekkite,

Thanks for looking.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 10:18 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello Skog,

Thank you.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 10:14 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello tclausen,

Yes, handheld shooting from inside my car. This kingfisher is very shy, all I need is to poke my head out of the car, and I will get nothing.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 10:08 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello Frogfish,

Just brace yourself whether in a car or outside.
If on foot, look around your surroundings for a fence, a wall, a tree stump etc. etc.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-10-2013, 09:57 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello swip,

Thank you for looking.

Hock
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 04-10-2013, 09:51 AM  
Hello from Malaysia
Posted By Hock
Replies: 16
Views: 1,272
Hello kerrowdown,

I have posted some pixs at the 300mm lens club sub-forum.

Hock
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 04-10-2013, 09:50 AM  
Hello from Malaysia
Posted By Hock
Replies: 16
Views: 1,272
Hello Jean,

I have posted some pixs in the 300mm lens club sub-forum.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-08-2013, 10:38 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Sorry, left out explanations on above pix.

Brown Shrike

Pentax Q with 02 Zoom, Pentax PF-80ED scope with XW20 eyepiece (26x magnification)

Note 3 of the image parameters reported in Exif -

ISO - 400
Shutter speed - 1/50th second
Focal length - 5.8mm (32mm in 35mm equivalent)

Shot through the scope with the eyepiece above we have -

Composite focal length - 832mm
Composite aperture - F/2.8

The above pix was the first time I shot a Pentax Q (demo unit) through a scope.
I was really impressed with the IQ that I got at ISO400, I'm sold. I had to get my own Pentax Q.

Many of you would have realised that in terms of angle of view, the above 832mm F/2.8 is practically the same as
the DA 560mm on the K-series D-SLRs, and that the aperture is 2 full stops larger.

I won't elaborate further since I have to get on with the DA 560mm pictures.

Hock
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-08-2013, 10:34 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello All,

Since this sub-forum of the Pentax Forum gathers together folks who have been shooting with long lenses,
I thought some might be interested in other ways of achieving long focal lengths using tools provided by Pentax.

I am not sure that this is the correct sub-forum to discuss how scopes can be used for photography.
I leave it to the Administrators to move such discussions to another section as they deem fit.

The common denominator are the scopes - they can be used, not only with most Pentax compact cameras,
(yes, that would include the new MX-1) but also with many compact cameras from other brands.

And yes, they can be used with every SLR camera Pentax has produced to date, including the mirrorless K-01.
Particularly the K-01 since its the only one with focus peaking.

Picture example of what I manage to do with Pentax scopes -
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-08-2013, 10:28 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
... And since I got a Pentax Q, I use this mainly nowadays -

Pentax Q with 01 Prime, Pentax PF-80ED scope with XW14 eyepiece (36x magnification)
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-08-2013, 10:26 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello All,

I have some interest in Pentax scopes because I sometimes do this -

Digiscoping -

Ricoh GX-100, Pentax PF-65ED II scope with XW14 eyepiece (28x magnification)
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-08-2013, 10:24 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By Hock
Replies: 40,821
Views: 4,315,236
Hello All,

Has anyone reported on this new scope ?

Pentax PR-80 EDA Spotting Scope | PhotographyBLOG
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