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SMC Pentax-DA* 300mm F4 ED [IF] SDM | | | | Sharpness | | | Aberrations | | | Bokeh | | | Autofocus | | | Handling | | | Value | |
| | Reviews | Views | Date of last review | | 81 | 363,361 | Thu August 3, 2023 | |  | | Recommended By | Average Price | Average User Rating | | 98% of reviewers | $1,034.58 | 9.56 | | | | ![SMC Pentax-DA* 300mm F4 ED [IF] SDM](https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/data/34/SMC_Pentax-DA-star_300mm_F4SDM.jpg)
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| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 431
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 12, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $1,175.95
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Build Quality, Color & Contrast, Sharpness | | Cons: | | |
The DA* 300 is a superb lens. The color and contrast of the photos are excellent and the lens is sharp wide open. Focusing is relatively quick even on my DS with rechargeable AA's. It has a nice weight to it and can be used hand-held in decent light. Definitely worth the price!
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: israel Posts: 180 | | Review Date: July 31, 2008 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | New or Used: New
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The DA* 300mm f/4 shows a field of view equivalent to a 450mm lens in 35mm terms.
The integrated tripod collar makes flexible use of a monopod easy .
It is possible to use the lenses for macro photography but it definitely won't replace a good 100mm macro lenses.
The DA* 300mm's minimum focusing distance of around 4.5 feet.
The DA* 300mm's range is perfect for sporting events, nature photography, or even a day at the zoo.
The DA* 300mm f/4 uses Pentax's supersonic drive motor (SDM) technology to drive the AF system on compatible bodies.
Full-time manual focus can be selected either via the lens's onboard AF/MF switch or the camera body's control.
The lenses have excellent contrast and vibrant color .
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I think that for nature photography there is a need of good AF teleconveter 1.5x compatible with Pentax DA* (DA-Star) zoom lenses which I did not found in the market!!!
I have found same problems of sharpness of pictures !!
It may depend of the distance which I shoot the object .
Koper
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https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/user-album-8011/ | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2008 Posts: 357
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 24, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $1,099.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, IQ | | Cons: | AF not faster than older F*300 f4.5 lens | |
When I 1st got it, I thought at f4.0 it was soft, until I realised that my new K20D need AF adjustment. It sharpen up so much it is no different from f5.6.
AF is silent but it is not really very fast. It is about the same speed as the old F*300 f4.5.
But overall the IQ is excellent. The colour and contrast is outstanding.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 593
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 23, 2008 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Exceptional image quality, build quality | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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This lens is superb with stunning image quality and excellent build quality. I cannot recommend it highly enough and it is the equal of the FA*300 f4.5 as far as image quality except that it also has SDM, focus clutch, tripod mount, f4 over f4.5, non scratch plastic over the painted barrel of the FA*300 and weather sealed.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2007 Location: France Posts: 804
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 22, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, SDM, sealed | | Cons: | Focus limiter missing | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
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The lens is so sharp that it clearly outresolves K20D sensor at 5.6.
Min focus distance appropriate for small wildlife (small birds, insects...)
Weight and weather sealed appropriate to take it for hiking
Also completely free of purple fringing; really stunning
Edit : works great on K5, does not seem to outresolve the sensor anymore
If AF miss, takes a lot of time to explore the large focus range; a focus limiter would have been appreciated
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1 user found this helpful
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