RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: Photozone DA*300 Test (on K-5)

Friday, June 10, 2011

Photozone DA*300 Test (on K-5)

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/643-pentax300f4

It seems that the old F*/FA* should be a better lens optically, as the resolution difference is not as large as that of the DA40 and DA70 for what we could find when the last times Klaus re-tested the DA40 and 70 (here and here):-

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/131-pentax-smc-fa-300mm-f45-ed-if-review--lab-test-report?start=1
(Lab results of previous PZ FA*300 test on a K10D)

Also, the F/FA*300 is virtually 100% distortion free, which is close to perfect in this aspect. More importantly, with a more compact size and less weight, I would undoubtedly to choose the F*/FA* over DA if I had to choose. The less than a half-stop faster in the maximum lens speed is something that I can give up for all the advantages mentioned above. Nevertheless, I had my F*300 for long anyway.

Comments (22)

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0 Vote up Vote down

Chris · 719 weeks ago

Rice, your point seems to be "Everything used to be better in the old days". Can't you acknowledge progress when you see it?

2 replies · active 718 weeks ago

-4 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 719 weeks ago

The fact is: Technology advanced, but quality sucks!

+6 Vote up Vote down

GuyIncognito · 718 weeks ago

Compare DA 40 at f/5.6: 2620/2274 = approx 1.15
Now compare FA 300 vs DA 300 at f/5.6: 1.15 * 2048 = approx 2355
DA 300 gives you a result of 2412 at f/5.6
So DA 300 is actually an improvement vs FA 300. Q.E.D.

If you want to play a pseudoscientific measurbation game, then at least try to actually use the numbers, next time, RiceHigh.

0 Vote up Vote down

Stephan · 719 weeks ago

The FA*300 does NOT have a tripod mount. With a field-of-view of 450mm on APS-C, this fact alone disqualifies this lens for serious use.

2 replies · active 719 weeks ago

-2 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 719 weeks ago

Yes, that's why I purchased an used F*300 instead, which is optically identical, whilst the FA* was yet the "current" lineup.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Ying · 719 weeks ago

Also the FA version is bloody heavy too!

0 Vote up Vote down

Torrentes · 719 weeks ago

What about noise, Ricehigh? This is a lens with a focal lenght that all Pentax wildlife photographer would like to own. But wild animals don't like the sound of the F*/FA* drive-screw AF. SDM does a much better work here. I prefer get the picture a bird with a negligible distortion that get a picture of the blue sky distosion free. That's my humble opinion. Cheers.

5 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

0 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 719 weeks ago

Wild animals may hear ultrasound. ;-)

+2 Vote up Vote down

Ying · 719 weeks ago

That is ONE clever answer I have to say, Well said Rice, a lot of animals have hearing capability far superior to humans.

However, I bet you wonl;t be using your F* if it;s raining outside, while DA* users will just shurg it off.

-2 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 719 weeks ago

When it is raining outside, f/4 is not fast enough! ;-)

And, what supertele things to shoot about in the rain?

+3 Vote up Vote down

Ying · 719 weeks ago

http://ih3.redbubble.net/work.6515851.2.flat,550x...

-2 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 719 weeks ago

Poor little bird! ;-D

+4 Vote up Vote down

Kost · 719 weeks ago

For me, I opted that DA300 lens is the most sharp lens that pentax ever produced at this focal length. I wonder if you really used the DA300 before drawing such conclusion.

4 replies · active 718 weeks ago

-2 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 719 weeks ago

The comment made is based on the lab test figures.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Ying · 719 weeks ago

Come on! Extreme border at maximum apature gives MTF of 2290, that is razor sharp in ANYONE's book. Surely.

-1 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 719 weeks ago

So, how about those figures for over 3,000 lw/ph for those 20MP+ FF gear then?

+1 Vote up Vote down

Alex · 718 weeks ago

That would be you having no clue about how those lines are counted ;)
According to photozone, it's impossible even for a "perfect" lens to achieve 3000 lines per picture height on any of the test APS-C cameras.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Ying · 719 weeks ago

There you said it, it's 20MP+. Why don't we compare that to a 40MP+ Phase One?

You can not cross compare MTF on differnet sensors.

BTW< are you giving yourself thumbs up on every post thesed ays? ;)

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

-2 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 719 weeks ago

Because it is not in 135 format (but the K-mount is).

+4 Vote up Vote down

Nick · 719 weeks ago

RIce

Once again you discredit your claimed engineering title. You have no facts on the difference between FA and DA performance on K5. Yet you seem to take every advantage to attack something about pentax.

What makes you tick?

+4 Vote up Vote down

GuyIncognito · 718 weeks ago

Aren't you capable of simple arithmetic RiceHigh?

Compare DA 40 at f/5.6: 2620/2274 = approx 1.15
Now compare FA 300 vs DA 300 at f/5.6: 1.15 * 2048 = approx 2355
DA 300 gives you a result of 2412 at f/5.6
So DA 300 is actually an improvement vs FA 300. Q.E.D.

0 Vote up Vote down

OGL · 718 weeks ago

1. This is very GOOD fresolution for long telephotos lenses...Ask Klaus. He can explain. The resolution of long telephoto is always a bit lower than standart lenses in any system, but it's hard to see at real photos and at printed photos.
2. It's not correct to compare DA70 with DA300....
3. If we compare DA*300/4 and FA*300/4.5, it's easy to see that new lens is a bit better optically..

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Friday, June 10, 2011

Photozone DA*300 Test (on K-5)

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