| Author: | | Inactive Account Registered: March, 2014 Posts: 3
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 6, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $340.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | built quality, colours, sharpness | | Cons: | Slow maximum aperture of f4, a little heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-01
| |
At 300mm on film and 450mm on digital the Pentax K 300/4 is my second longest lens as I recently added a SMC Pentax M 400/5.6 to the collection. While it is not a lightning fast 300/2.8 it is no slouch either. When you put a 2x converter on the back of this beast and you have a 600mm film/900mm f8 on digital! How is that for an extreme telephoto? For those of us to whom photography is just a hobby it is unlikely we will ever be able to afford or justify that 600mm f4 lens.
Overall a good well built super telephoto lens that is somewhat portable, but on the slow side.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2009 Location: HAMBURG, GERMANY Posts: 6
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 12, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp / Solid / Build-In Hood | | Cons: | No tripod mount | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
| |
Extremly sharp on my little K-r - i just fall in love with this lens. I was surpised about the moderate rating here, but i´m only looking only for the IQ and that is a clear 10.
Yes, a tripod mount would be better and yes - it is heavy - but the image quality of my copy is great !
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2017 Location: Lake Worth, Florida USA Posts: 3
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 22, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $127.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very high quality for an excellent price. Terrific results if you work with it's limits. | | Cons: | Soft wide open | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K1
| |
I bought my lens for only $127 and didn't use it much initially. I use it on a Pentak K1 and lately started experimenting again with it.
It is fairly soft wide open, but stopping the lens down will result in some sharp photographs.
Purple fringing is obvious under certain circumstances, but that's easily remedied in post production.
The construction is built like a tank and will be working long after I leave this place. The focus is smooth. The overall feel is well balanced with my K1.
If you have a K1 or other similar camera with excellent high ISO capabilities and image stabilization then this lens is a no brainer and should be part of your collection.
  | | | | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2015 Posts: 93
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 7, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build quality, IQ | | Cons: | A bit large, but still acceptable | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K2dmd
| |
Don't listen to the so so reviews of this lens if you're shooting film, which is what this beautiful thing was made for.
I just picked one up and ran a test roll of HP5, tortured it and I don't see any weaknesses at all.
This wasn't made for digital so you can't expect it to behave like it was. After seeing what it can do I'll never sell it.
It is large but the images it produces nullify that particular shortcoming. I found the focus throw to be about right also.
I'd give it a 9.5 but there's no provision for that
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2011 Location: Marseille Provence Posts: 150
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 1, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Full-Frame, Full-Metal, Easy Focus, Sharp, Colors, Price, No AF issue, Eternally Sustainable ! | | Cons: | Green / Magenta fringes in OoF High-Contrast zones, far Close Focus, No Tripod Mount | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
| |
Hi All ! 
The 40 yrs old SMC Pentax 1:4/300 is a * bargain * as long as you avoid shooting against the light !
Sat. March 28 at circuit Paul-Ricard = first practice session of the 2015 WEC :
- LMP1 Audi R18 #8 - GTAm Ferrari #66 - LMP2 Morgan-Sard #43
( Right Click + View Image to pixel-peep it at full size ! )
.
.
Focus is on ~the front of the Audi, 1/800s, f/8, ISO-200, pp DCU4 as is, No CA Correction !
= you can see some fringing on the slightly OoF air intake of the blue Morgan...
this picture is ~1/4 of the area of the original PEF (logos=100%)
.
Here is a rare Review of this SMC Pentax 1:4/300 :
https://www.photoinfos.com/Fototechnik/Objektive/Pentax-SMC-K-300mm.htm
+ the way to read it all around the world :
https://www.translatetheweb.com/
.
- LMP2 Alpine Nissan #36 - LMP1 AER ByKolles #4 - LMGT Aston Martin Vantage V8 #99
Right Click + View Image to pixel-peep this one up to 2048 × 1408 pixels !
.
Focus is on ~the front of the Bykolles, 1/800s, f/7, ISO-200, pp DCU4 as is, No CA Correction
This Large picture is ~2/3 of the area of the whole Original PEF frame...
Both photos : K-5 - Manual Exposure setting + Manual Focus + Single Shot mode !
Good Luck to find your own SMC Pentax 1:4/300 ! | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2012 Posts: 1,972
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 3, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $190.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness, focusing and overal handling | | Cons: | color fringing and no tripod mount !!! | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-01
| |
I bought it to accompany or to replace my massive Meyer Orestegor 300mm and I did a comparison of those two - which you can see from the following link here on Pentax Forums : https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/55946-300mm-plus-lens-club...ml#post2800845
Just to quickly sum up - the lens is having a really good sharpness - I was surprised that even wide open the details was there - even in very contrasty situations ( like in the comparison linked ) - so basically i rate this lens fery high on sharpness.
The aberrations on the other hand ARE the problem and on certain situations they will ruin your shot. Meyer is performing much better in this area. The worse news is that Pentax doesn't quite stop color fringing even when I stop the lens down - after f8 it is nearly gone - but not fully, so watching out for this flaw is important and this lens will not deliver in every situation.
Handling is superb - lens feels very solid, focusing is superb and aperture flawless . The only gripe is the lack of tripod collar or mount - and that is making using this lens on tripod a bit awkward. Shame Pentax !!
I went through several cheap 300-400mm lenses and the very first one that I was very happy about was Meyer. Now I can see how Pentax will take its place for hand-held use and Meyer will stay at home or be only used with tripod .
Very happy with this lens and I would recommend it to every Pentax user. If you can live with / or fix in PP this awful color fringing -you will be very happy with what this lens is capable of - a very competent performer indeed !
I would personally rate this lens 8 for digital and 9 for film use - as the color fringing is less of an issue there . Since we don't have 0.5 marks here I went with 9 for it - although for both digital/film use I would rate it 8.5.
if it had a tripod collar - that would be a solid 9 - and if fringing was not that prominent - that would be a solid 10 for the money- but then the lens would be selling for much more I guess :P
Below several shots from this lens - at f4 f8 and the bokeh wide open :
Pentax K 300mm f4.0
 SMC K 300mm - bokeh @ f4.0
PS: here is how SMC K 300mm looks against my Meyer Orestegor 300mm f4.0
 SMC K 300mm against Meyer Orestegor 300mm | | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2012 Location: France Posts: 9
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 14, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness, color,used without tripod | | Cons: | application knowledge in post processing, minimal focusing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
| |
Hello all,
I possess a K300mm f4 for a week.
I usually to wait longer before giving my opinion on a lens, but I think I can bring some information on this post.
First a 300m f4 manual is never very easy to use, again, it is true that this old lens is not optimized for digital camera.
For someone who want a JPG ready, and not doing a post-processing, ignore my comment as a DA 55-300mm may be more suitable.
1) the build quality is uncompromising.
2) the weight of this lens is similar to that of DA 300mmF4. I use it without tripod on my K-5.
3) focus takes a little practice, but the ring is very precise.
the minimal focusing distance of 4m is a little weak
4) the k-5 viewfinder remains luminous because F4 is a good compromise (300mm f2,8 is probably too big and heavy).
5) the sharpness is very good has F4, extraordinary by closing the diaphragm.
6) The contrast is very good, and asked to be adjusted as usual cases.
7) the colors are balanced and faithful to reality.
8) the bokeh is superb (silky and soft).
9) the chromatic aberrations beings are often corrected, good softwares of Treatment solve the problem very often (I developed my SILKYPIX RAW DSP DSP 4 or 5.)
In conclusion, for an affordable price, here's a lens that give exceptional results. You need a little practice to master the subject and some knowledge in post processing. | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: June, 2011 Location: Deepdale Posts: 9
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 25, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | built quality, colours, sharpness | | Cons: | weight, lack of tripod mount | |
This K lens has the typical K quality control and built, which means that it works beautifully. I bought it used, but in very good condition; the original price was the same as the Fisheye lens K 4/17mm and higher than the Pentax (Zeiss Distagon) 2/28mm at the time! (Insurance price list was included in the sale). That gives an indication of its position.
These days, it is a relatively cheap lens because it has no autofocus, no A setting diaphragma, hence you need to use the green button on a Pentax dslr. It even has no tripod mont, which even at the time was an oversight, because it is handy. However, aftermarket products can compensate for that.
But the built quality is just amazing. Focusing is extremely smooth. The diaphragm ring, which I count as an advantage, works well. It has a built-in lens hood you cannot loose. Colours are rendered very nicely. I did not experience too much CA problems, but others reportedly do. Contrast is good, and so is sharpness. I did not need compensation for this lens, unlike most Takumars.
I would give this lens 8.5 if possible, but it's not. Since someone gave it an absurd 1, I opt for 9, although I rate it slightly lower.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 4,324
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 23, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $175.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | inexpensive, sharp, well made, nice focus action | | Cons: | heavy, no tripod ring | |
I am not a "long lens" user on the whole mainly using lenses up to c. 135mm. Having been greatly impressed by the K135/2.5 I decided to take a chance on this lens when I saw one for a reasonable price. As I also shoot a lot of film, I wanted a so-called "full frame" lens.
I have been pretty impressed with it so far. I have had less problems with PF with this lens than I have had with my Tamron 70-300mm. With a bit of practice I am starting to get more of my shots in focus (mainly squirrels, birds and lambs, I'll admit!). What PF I have seen is easily and quickly sorted in Lightroom.
This isn't a FA* lens, but for the price point it is extremely good buy and one I'd happily recommend.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 130 | | Review Date: October 8, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $325.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Excellant IQ, fast F4, solid build | | Cons: | Heavy, no tripod mount,CA in certain conditions | |
I bought this lens earlier in the year from KEH in E+ condition and have not been disappointed. I do have problems hand holding this lens, no surprise as I am 62 yrs old and the hands are not as steady as they were a few years back. I made a homemade tripod mount/lens support as some others mentioned and it seems to help. I also purchased a ProMaster 1.7x TC to use on this lens to make it a 510 mm(as hinman did in some of his posts). Photos of my lens support are in the SLR lens discussion section of the forum, under SMC 300 F4.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 17,891
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 2, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Good Speed and works with the 1.7x AF Adaptor | | Cons: | No tripod mount, but see below | |
I see comments about lack of a tripod mount. This can be fixed with a little imagination, and some 1/2" x 1/8" and 1" x 1/8" aliminium bar stock. I managed to make a tripod mount which had a ring to capture the lense, and screw to the base of the camera, making the combination mountable. The geometry changes for each camera model as the lense centerline to camera base changes. My mount also was designed on inserting the 1.7x autofocus adaptor to give a 500mm F6.7 autofocus lense.
This mount also includes an integrated snap in to the Monfretto 486 quick releas ball head
Regardless of what all the camera manuals and the autofocus adaptor state about the adaptor working only witl lenses F2.8 and faster, I have never had a problem with any F4.0 lens, on any of my autofocus SLRs, which include a PZ-1, an *istD and the K10.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/index.php?n=849 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2019 Posts: 41
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 31, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | handling, simplicity, build quality in-hand | | Cons: | no tripod ring | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: MX, 5dmkII
| |
Bought along with a M 50/1.4 for $110 combined; asking price was $80 each. Purchased copy was in decent condition optically and externally but had a relatively stiff (though smooth) focusing ring and a dented lens hood that takes some finesse to extend.
I think the people who don't like it either have unrealistic expectations for MF film-era lenses or paid too much for it.
Cons:
-Not ultra sharp at F4
-weighs more than a modern plastic/composite/computer-designed 300/F4
-focus throw is very long
-No tripod ring
-300mm prime is too long to be very useful on a crop-sensor
-Fringing, especially at F4
Pros:
-Sharpens up nicely by F8 (aberrations stay somewhat)
-incredibly sturdy
-focus throw is very long (useful for fine-tuning focus)
-surprisingly good in-hand, especially with a modest-sized film camera attached (paired kind of wonderfully with my MX)
-300mm is great on a full-frame sensor or film
300/F4 at F8, 1/250th on a Pentax MX. Portra 800 in EV11-ish (maybe more like 10.5-10) conditions.
It's not a good sports lens. Hunting for focus across its full focus range is not fun. It's a nice budget complement to more "normal" lenses, but it's definitely not a replacement for them. it's also just small enough that I can fit it into my camera bag as part of my typical carry; I like how it gives me a completely different perspective on subjects from what I get from, say, a 50mm, and at F4 it's bright enough for mixed light situations, though it really does shine only during the day (largely because of the lack of a tripod mount). I've also used it with a 50mm screwed on front for a 6:1 macro, which is a unique look.
All told I'd probably be disappointed if I'd paid $300 for it today but I wouldn't own it if it was a $300 lens.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 255
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 26, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Superb build quality, manual focussing, sharp, bokeh | | Cons: | Abberations, only hand hold shots | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: K2 to K1ii
| |
This lens feels so solid, beautiful crafted lens. It is real sharp when you focus with live view, the DOF is very narrow. Water shots in bright light have to be corrected because of the green/magenta aberations in front and behind your object. In that sort of situations the aberations help you in pin point focussing, the narrow area without aberations is in focus...  . Aberations are easy to correct on post btw. Stopped down this lens is very sharp. Very nice focus throw also.
On K-01 :
On K1ii :
Edit Feb 2021: I compared K300 / A400 / Tokina RMC400 in ideal situation on 24 MP Pentax KP. Resolving power is quite good, only aberrations around blinking objects are an issue.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2016 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 11, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Solid, good focus throw, very sharp when stopped down | | Cons: | CA to f8, | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 7
Value: 8
Camera Used: k-3
| |
I love these legacy lenses! I have the 200 f4, 300 f4 and the 500f4.5. I just need the 400 to complete the tele collection.
It's not super fast but the focus throw is really good.
I got it at a church sale for $50CA and it is in new condition. I'm loving this lens!
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Oamaru Posts: 49 | | Review Date: March 10, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $160.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Well Built and decently sharp | | Cons: | Bad CA and quite heavy | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-30
| |
I bought this lens from a friend from the forums and it was in excellent condition!
The lens is sturdy, very well built. I prefer the metal body of the old pentax lenses than the plastic ones.
Using it with my camera I found it quite heavy and tricky to use but not too difficult (And its a good workout for your arms!).
Overall the Images were decent except for the CA which as previous users have said is somewhat of a problem. But then again it can be removed through post-processing.
I would recommend this lens as more of a backup rather than your primary telephoto lens.
| | |
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
