| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,308
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 7, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Tripod mount, solid build, optical quality, built in hood | | Cons: | Bit on the heavy side... | |
This is a lovely lens.. Fantastic optical quality, slightly above in my opinion the Canon equivelant, though much smaller and still very well constructed... Optically it is the same as the FA version, but I prefer this one due to the tripod mount..
Minimum focus distance is around 2 meters which can mean some nice closeups with the equiv. FOV of 450mm on our APS DSLRs.. It has a 67mm thread for filters and comes in at just under 900gm..
No problems on any Pentax DSLRs focuses accurately no FF or BF issues at all to speak of..
Built in hood is handy (one less thing to forget), it unscrews ad slides out then screws into place securely.. Tripod mount is removable when you don't need it.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2006 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 115
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 4, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Sharp, Sharp, lovely Bokeh | | Cons: | slow focus, AF won't work in M mode | |
This is easily my best lens. It's so light and small that you don't need the tripod mount. (the FA* version does not have it).
I almost exclusively shoot it wide open. There is no FF/BF and the thin DOF creates fantastic three dimensional and nice bokeh.
If you have the opportunity to get one, don't hesitate. These days (Jan 2007) the price of pristine sample is well over $1000 US.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Posts: 3,381
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 14, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $1,250.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp, vivid detail, excellent bokeh | | Cons: | autofocus hunts quite a bit and is a bit slow | |
I've been looking for a very sharp lens in this mm range and after reading the 2 prior comments and other online reviews, paid a small fortune on ebay. It is worth every penny. Whenever I shake my head over the amount paid, I just call up a few images and GRIN! Handheld shots are possible and the tripod mount is a huge +. If you are fanatical about sharp, sharp detail, don't hesitate over cost, just buy one and enjoy. I sold this one when i accidentally won another on ebay for less $s. Both were equal in performance.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: May, 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 25, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Relatively compact, extremely sharp and positive auto-focus.. | | Cons: | The cost now is considerably higher than when new. | |
I've owned dozens of Pentax lenses thru the film and now digital years. The 300mm while not used often has produced some magnificent images.
Art Ketchum
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2007 Location: Maaseik, Belgium Posts: 158
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 2, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $1,500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, wel build, | | Cons: | | |
Its an amazing lens. I use for about everything from landscapes to portraits but mostly for wildlife.
Wonder if the new DA 300 sdm wil beat this quality.µ
Guido
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Posts: 3,381
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 8, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $930.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp with excellent bokeh and beautiful color rendition | | Cons: | if any slight cons it would be slow and somewhat noisy autofocus | |
This lens delivers sharp, detailed images with beautiful bokeh and color, excellent build quality. I use it for birding and have had superb results. On APS C sensor its a 450mm equivalent. Buy one, you will never regret it.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2008 Posts: 357
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 11, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $850.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp right from f4.5 | | Cons: | the lousy grey paint | |
Used for shooting aerial displays. Never let me down. Now used on K10D, its even better. Wonder how the DA300 is going to top this one. 
Oh, I prefer this to the FA version because it has a retractable hood and a removable tripod mount.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 667
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 16, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, contrasty, nice colors, no chromatic aberrations | | Cons: | Bokeh can be a bit unpleasant at times | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 3
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Many cameras from *ist D to K1ii
| |
A great telephoto lens able to capture sharp, contrasty, pictures with glorious colors, even when used wide open. It exhibits a remarkably small amount of chromatic aberrations for a lens of this focal length and those are never visible on the printouts, even with dark subjects shot against a bright sky.
The bokeh can be a wee bit disturbing on some pictures, but this is only apparent on very few pictures and doesn't impair global image quality that much.
The lens is very well constructed and feels sturdy. It looks much better than the FA version IMHO and has two advantages over its more recent sibling: a removable tripod mount as well as a built-in collapsible hood.
Some will say its main drawback is that it's only F/4.5. Maybe, but then it's fully usable wide open and also much smaller and lighter than an F/2.8 behemoth. It's also much easier to carry in the bag just in case and easier to use handheld to shoot the unexpected.
Cheers!
Abbazz
Addendum: I still shoot this lens in 2022 with my K1ii.
The F* 300mm f/4.5 is still my favorite telephoto. Small, sharp, almost apochromatic.
This is a building shot from 1.7km away through the turbulent atmosphere of Jakarta. The lens was at f/5.6, 2/3 stop from wide open, and the picture was taken in autofocus mode with my K1ii handheld (click on the picture to download the original image).
Do you see the structure at the top of the building?
Here's an enlarged view:
If you look closely, you can see a guy with an orange vest working on the highest platform.
If you download the whole image file, you will see other guys working on the building, including one doing some welding. I find the amount of detail this lens captures truly amazing, considering the distance and also the fact that this crop is almost at the edge of the frame. Everything is sharp and there is no trace of chromatic aberrations!
Cheers!
Abbazz
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: London / Southampton Posts: 1
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 4, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | *Really Sharp*, compact, well built, sweet bokeh | | Cons: | no AF limiter | |
Managed to find one of these beauties in a local camera shop for £300 and it is worth every penny.
Wide open the lens is pin-sharp, beats the resolution on the K20D and produces wonderful 8x10 prints from Ilford FP4 (pushed to ISO200). As the lens performs fantastically wide open the relatively slow f/4.5 is not a problem and gives really powerful bokeh. The compact size makes it great for birding, airshows etc and I don't find the weight too much of a problem. The tripod mount is useful, and a valuable feature over the FA version as is the built-in hood.
Only feature lacking is an AF limiter although for my purposes the AF speed is more than adequate, although hunting can be an issue in lower light.
If you find one, buy it!! It's an incredible bit of glass.
| | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2009 Location: Delaware Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 5, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
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I have not had a chance to review the lens I just purchased it off ebay and it will be here soon. I did have one question for anyone that has this lens. I purchased the lens without the mounting collar and would like to get one... does anyone have any suggestions where I can pick one up. Thanks in advance for your help! I will post my review once I have a change to use it. I shoot mostly soccer pics and am very excited to get it and give it a go. Cheers!
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 78
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 7, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $554.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Ultra Sarp, Great Bokeh, | | Cons: | Just a Tad slow on AF but acceptable | |
I use this lens for my wildlife photography mostly the canvas back ducks on lake Saint Clair, Next to the SMC Pentax-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro. This lens is just as sharp. When considering the different range between the two. These are the sharpest lenses that Pentax has ever made hands down.
Then lets consider bokeh it is simply wonderful. This lens is pretty rare and hard to find and at nearly a thousand dollars if one can afford it. It is worth every penny spent.
Skooterman In response to the mount, You may want to contact
PENTAX Customer Care in Denver Colorado
Toll Free: (800) 877-0155
Phone: (303) 799-8000
This lens is so rare I doubt that you will find anyone with this mount. Pentax does still service some of the F lenses and your best bet on finding this mount is through them.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2008 Posts: 177
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 21, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Tripod Mount, optical and build Quality | | Cons: | no weatherproof | |
it is my most favorite lens, i got it for wildlife
it is very rear to get the F* Version with the tripod Mount, but it is worth to wait for it
the tripod mount is a great bonus - mounted on a monopod it gives me the extra time to wait for the perfect moment.
but it is not too heavy to use it out off the hand
the quality of the photos is just awesome, great colours, very sharp, very fine details
the bokeh is very nice and smooth. i use it for portraits as well.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2010 Location: Paris, TX Posts: 38
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 3, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | light, small, sturdy, built-in hood, great glass | | Cons: | Bokeh can be a bit unpleasant at f4.5-5.6 with foliage close behind subject | |
To those needing a replacement foot, contact Pentax in Colorado and buy the foot for the A* 200/4 macro. It fits perfectly and is much smaller and cheaper too I think. I kept one mounted to my 300/4.5 for years until I sold the Macro lens and sent the mount along with it.
There are more convenient AF switching systems such as Full Time Manual, and the foot is large and hard to fit in the bag. But these are small complaints quickly forgotton when the photos are enlarged and one sees how good the lens really is. It held one of the highest ratings on Photodo for years, and in my experience deserved it.
For closeups, a Kenko AF 25mm extension tube will bring the close focus distance down to flower-and-bug level, though one loses infinity focus.
Most will learn that the foot is not always necessary because the lens is really not that large or heavy. With today's high ISO cameras, leaving the foot off at all times is a viable option.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,042
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 24, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $1,250.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Fantastic IQ, bokeh, sharp wide open, Tripod collar | | Cons: | Lack of Weather Sealing | |
I think this lens is the single main reason I shoot Pentax. This is the first lens I bought after the kit lens, I have bought many lenses after that, but none have beaten this first purchase. I shoot everything from portraits to landscapes with this lens, and I feel that this lens produces magazine covers with every shot. This lens unfailingly has travelled with me on every holiday, and photographic outing since I purchased it and I guess it will continue to do so. Compact, lightweight, bokeh to die for, what more could one ask for from a lens?
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,016
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 8, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Too numerous to list... | | Cons: | tripod mount a bit excessive... | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
| |
The rating scale needs to go up to eleven for this lens...I only need ONE picture for this review (wish you could see it BIG):
Does anybody NOT want it after seeing that? And who's the nut that said this is HEAVY? I think this is the lightest 300 ever made....
OK, since you insist, one more (I had to wade in waste deep in FREEZING water to get this shot, so I hope you appreciate it):
Both shot with an *ist D, Metz flash.
Cheers,
Cameron
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