Advice on a 300mm lens - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited AF

01/04/2011 08:10:20 PM · #1

Hi All,

Just traded my Sigma 70-300 F4.5-5.6 on the Sigma 70-200 F2.8. The 70-200 is a far superior lens, which I am absolutely loving. However, there are occasions when I miss the 300mm reach of the old lens for some sports and wildlife. As I understand I cannot use a teleconverter with my Pentax/Sigma combination. Feel free to correct me if I've got that wrong. So I'm now contemplating a 300mm (or longer) prime or a longer zoom. F2.8 would be great, but I'm not sure the budget is going to stretch that far. Suggestions??

Cheers,
Qiki

ti_evom

Pentax K-5

01/04/2011 08:35:48 PM · #2

I rented the 300mm DA* from cameralensrentals.com for a week. I'm saving up for it now. ;-) I was super impressed how sharp it was wide open at f/4. I have two challenge shots and one workshop shot here on DPC using that lens:

This shot was straight from the camera at f/4 and only cropped. I didn't do any other editing whatsoever, including sharpening. The bokeh is to die for. I took several hundred shots with it while I had it and kept thinking to myself, "I gotta get this lens!!!"

Another taken wide open at f/4.

This was taken at f/5.6. I think the lens actually out-resolves the K10D. I'd like to rent it once more to try with my new K5 and see how good it can get.

Cameralensrentals has a few for sale right now at about $900. They're tough to get any cheaper than that from Ebay. I also tried the newer 60-250 DA* and that is a pretty damn good lens as well. Even though it is an f/4 lens, it just ran circles around the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 -- at ALL zoom lengths. Now that we have the K5, that extra stop isn't a huge deal any longer because the ISO is much cleaner. Besides, if I'm shooting below the 100mm range, I just break out the 77mm. Once you get over 100mm, it's really hard to discern between a f2.8 shot and an f/4.

The next two lenses I buy will most definitely be the 300mm DA* and the 60-250mm DA*. No question. But don't let me influence you, try them before you buy them.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/04/2011 08:59:17 PM · #3

Thanks for the feedback Josh. So, all of your samples pics were taken with the K10D and not the K5?

The 300mm DA* was actually one I had been considering, but the reviews of it are a bit 'so-so'. Nothing like as good as the reviews of the Pentax 200mm F/2.8. I considered the 60-250 when I bought my 70-200, however the jump from 200mm to 250mm wasn't going to make all that much difference to me and F/2.8 is still an advantage over F/4 in certain situations (plus the 70-200 was significantly cheaper).

All of that said, your shots with the 300mm look nice enough and I'd be using it outside so the F/4 should be OK in most situations. Certainly worth considering. Unfortunatly I can't buy one in Oz for under $2K :(

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

01/04/2011 09:31:46 PM · #4

At that range you just buy what you can afford. There aren't a lot of, well I could do this or that for the same price options.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

01/04/2011 10:10:27 PM · #5

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

At that range you just buy what you can afford. There aren't a lot of, well I could do this or that for the same price options.

Thanks Doc. That's kinda what I figured, but thought I'd ask the question in case there were any 3rd party options I hadn't come across. Whilst I'd pretty much discounted the Sigma long zooms (for the same reason I traded my 70-300 on the 70-200 F/2.8) I've actually just found a bunch of very positive reviews of the Sigma 120-400mm. And with F/5.6 right out at 400mm, it should still be acceptable for most of the sports I shoot. Of course I could also go for the Sigma 200-500 , but that would mean selling one of my children. Still....

giantmike

Canon EOS R6

01/04/2011 10:12:21 PM · #6

Seems Sigma has made a number of 70-200 lenses. Depending on which one you have, it may be compatible with a sigma teleconverter: //www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/acc/condaitr.htm

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/04/2011 10:20:23 PM · #7

Originally posted by giantmike:

Seems Sigma has made a number of 70-200 lenses. Depending on which one you have, it may be compatible with a sigma teleconverter: //www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/acc/condaitr.htm

Thanks Mike. I'd already located that table and unfortunately the APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG Macro HSM does not support the teleconveters.

MattO

Nikon D4

01/04/2011 10:56:02 PM · #8

Have you considered the Sigma 120-300 F2.8? They have an older DG model which was just discontinued and also have a newer model just coming out which has OS(Image stabilization) and Sigma has their own converters which work with them. I had the Canon version of this and it was an amazingly versatile although heavy lens.

Matt

Edit to add I can't find anywhere in English online that shows it in Pentax mount but here it is in some language.

Linkie

Message edited by author 2011-01-04 23:00:37.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

01/04/2011 10:58:11 PM · #9

Originally posted by Qiki:

... Of course I could also go for the Sigma 200-500 , but that would mean selling one of my children. Still....

\

Really? Are children going for that much now?

01/04/2011 11:04:02 PM · #10

Thanks Matt. Well worth considering, although at $3K+ (at least with an Australian warranty) it's around $1K more than the Pentax 300mm F/4. Still, I like the idea of the 2.8 and the zoom gives it a little more flexibility.