Performer

[pez]

Patty Wagstaff, at an airshow in N GA last year

 

[smoke665]

Nice shot!!! Is this the KP?

 

[pez]

Thanks! No, that was my K3 with a DA*300.

 

[smoke665]

Duh! Should have read your post about it being last year, sorry. I've drooled over the DA 300 for awhile now. It was on my present to me list for this year until I had to buy a new Heat Pump this spring.

 

[pez]

Duh! Should have read your post about it being last year, sorry. I've drooled over the DA 300 for awhile now. It was on my present to me list for this year until I had to buy a new Heat Pump this spring.

I finally bought mine last year when one of those mysterious random Pentax lens sales was going on- for around $300 off! Still a lot for me, though. It's awesome in every way, but it's relatively large and heavy and I'm always afraid I'll damage it.

Sent from my SM-N920V using ThePhotoForum.com mobile app

 

[smoke665]

That lens is awesome, so much sharper than the old Sigma 100-300 I'm limping by with. I so rarely use it though that I'm having problems justifying the cost to the wife. LOL

 

[pez]

At some point, I plan on replacing my old original DA55-300 with the newly re-designed HD DA 55-300mm ED PLM WR RE (I think that's all the letters). It's purportedly super-quick and silent, and the latest K-3 firmware allows it to be used on that, as well as the K-S1, K-S2, KP, and K70. Seems like a better walk-around tele lens and a big improvement over previous iterations. The shots I've seen with it look very good.

 

[smoke665]

HD DA 55-300mm ED PLM WR RE

Looked at that one also. Got some good reviews, especially on the value for the money, but struggles on the auto focus on fast moving subjects. Sharpness above 200 mm wasn't as good either supposedly.

 

[pez]

HD DA 55-300mm ED PLM WR RE

Looked at that one also. Got some good reviews, especially on the value for the money, but struggles on the auto focus on fast moving subjects. Sharpness above 200 mm wasn't as good either supposedly.

Only corner sharpness falls off really, going by real world examples- it's hard to tell. Center looks good. Is there any case where a Pentax is particularly good at following moving subjects on AF?? If they make a body that will do that, surely a plm lens would be the thing you'd want to stick on it, haha

Sent from my SM-N920V using ThePhotoForum.com mobile app

 

[pez]

HD DA 55-300mm ED PLM WR RE

Looked at that one also. Got some good reviews, especially on the value for the money, but struggles on the auto focus on fast moving subjects. Sharpness above 200 mm wasn't as good either supposedly.

Well, I just passed my old 55-300 on to a friend who wanted to get better shots of her kid's soccer games, and I have somehow scrapped together enough to order the new version. The PF review still seems to be the only comprehensive review anyone has done of this lens. I guess I'll find out shortly, haha. They conclude that it is better in every way compared to the original, except for the slower minimum aperture- which makes it arguably the best in it's class. The rounded 9-blade aperture is a most welcome change. I expect to get a lot of use out of it (in daylight, lol) due to its light weight and relative small size- and the ease of chucking it into my bag without worrying about it too much (unlike the *300). Planning a trail hike soon to try and catch some birds and stuff.

 

[smoke665]

@pez can't wait to see the photos with the new glass.