Site Supporter Registered: April, 2013 Location: Norwich, Connecticut Posts: 440 | | Review Date: January 21, 2024 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive and available (on my shelf). | | Cons: | Heavy, Looong focusing drive, Chromatic aberration | | Sharpness: 5
Aberrations: 2
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 3
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1
New Or Used: Used
Autofocus: 1
| |
Getting a notification that this lens had a new review by member Cucuc, I decided to drag my lens off the shelf, dust it off (literally) and give it a try as well...
There is not a lot I can say differently from the review of this lens, except to wonder about the conditions, the original reviewer were in, because my lens seems to have more overall contrast.
I shot with this lens at both 1/250 (This image) and at 1/160 (both at ISO 400) with little change in color depth, exposure or contrast. I had my aperture set at between f8 and f11 and my subject was in the shadow of the house, on a sunny, winter day (today) with the temperature hovering around 15 degrees. The background was snow covered and sunlit...
According to the lens scale, I shot my image at fifty feet. (Which was fairly accurate...) But a Dark Eyed Junko, who was sitting on my deck railing at twelve feet away could not come into focus until I moved back to
The chromatic aberration on my edition of this lens is not a lot different than that of the original reviewer and as you can see from my image focusing this beast, (hand held) is a chore (My K1 has no split screen focusing prism, making the chore even more difficult) as you can see from my image, the camera kept giving me the in-focus alarm, when my subject was still 3 inches behind what the camera saw...
If you find one of these lenses for $10 - $30... (I acquired mine as a three lens bundle in a pawn shop for $40...) Well, that would be worth it... (if nothing else you have a stylish paper weight for your desk...)
Regardless, This lens would be a descent performer as long as your expectations are low and you don't try to push this glass beyond its capability...
I would say, at the beach - within 100 yards or close in, in the woods... and both with a tripod and a stationary subject. I would definitely NOT try to use this lens at a sporting event or where your action is near and far...
 | |
New Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: Bucharest Posts: 17 | | Review Date: January 21, 2024 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | nicely built, cheap, light | | Cons: | very soft wide open | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5
New Or Used: Used
| |
I have had this lens for a few years now. I got it as a test to see if I like and need the 300mm focal length. It never surprised me. I always believed I got exactly what I paid for. Occasionally I try to use it for photographing birds in the back yard but even with a split prism focusing screen it s hard to be fast enough especially because it is useless at f5.6. For any chance of a decent photo you need to keep it between f8 and f11. with good light and if you nail the focus it can give good results. i was even able to photograph Jupiter and distinguish 4 of it s moons. mine has a decent amount of fungus on the rear lens. I have a sense it could be much better if i got rid of that. also mine has a tripod collar that helps a lot. the construction is good. the focus ring is smooth. the incorporated hood is loose on mine. it has a f64 aperture setting as a panoramic focus option but the iq is terrible starting from f22
 
 | |
