First Impressions Pentax smc DA* 300mm F4 ED(IF) SDM Lens

[snooked]

Old Engineer wrote:

Simply beautiful. What a lovely creature. I vote for you keeping the lens.

Can you share the camera stats and lens settings?

What am I likely to have to save (hide) for eventually buying one of those lenses?

Old Engineer

K10D, Aperture Priority F9, ISO 800, 1/1000Sec.

I bought for $1147.00 including shipping. Could not have afforded if I had not sold Sigma EX 100-300mm and matching TC (Got $930.00 after selling expenses)

[snooked]

penolta wrote:

Congratulations - the faster focus should be a boon for bifs. Besides the nonSDM TCslowing the focus speed by reverting to mechanical focus (or isn't that why it is slower?), TCs have been known to degrade an image, especially if not specifically matched to the lens, so it will be interesting to compare shots with the TC with crops to the same size from images tzaken without the TC. You might be better without it.

The SDM did work with the teleconverter. With the TC there was some hunting, without TC focus snaped in fast.

style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000"I will post some similar photos with and witout so all can form their own opinion. The photos with the TC will usually be slower shutter speed due to loss of one stop. That alone will change sharpness.

style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000"Ed

[Ian Mc]

Thanks for posting this great shot from your first day out with the new 300. Excellent capture.

If you don't mind could you post a slightly smaller crop with the egret more on the left with more space to fly into.

I'm amazed you got such a great price for your Sigma combo.

Cheers: Ian Mc

[snooked]

bigdawg wrote:

Looks good so far...I would still prefer a f/2.8 though.

Dawg

Dawg, I'm curious why the premium on F2.8. I shoot with the smallest lens opening I can get enough shutter speed for to get the best DOF and better odds for good focus. Just wondering if you are shooting concerts or in low light? F4 is just one stop, and much lighter than an F2.8 would be. I had no troble hand holding the 300mm for BIF shots.

Sigma has a 120-300mm F2.8, full frame and full $.

[Peacekeeper]

Snooked

Have you seen the difference in the front element diameter of a 300mm f/2.8 prime (112mm) versus a 300mm f/4 prime (77mm)?

You get a lot more light and a sharper image thru a 300mm f/2.8 stopped down to f/4 (aperuture 28mm wide) than you do a 300mm f/4 (aperture 19mm wide).

So f/4 on a f/2.8 prime gives me a faster shutter speed too.

I have a Sigma EX 300mm f/2.8, damn big front element but no SDM. :-D

[Rodney9]

Terrific shot, so sharp.

[Gumnut]

wow
an excellent photo
i am really looking forward to more photos like this
my 80-320 zoom just doesnt compare

i dont suppose you want to swap