No matter what lens you use, shooting with long lenses is difficult. I'm still in the learning phase. It is like going hunting. And hunting is hard.
I started with a lens pretty similar to Jens, a Tokina ATX-150-500/5,6. After a while I realised the optical quality was not good enough at the long end. Then I moved on to a Tamron 300/2,8 plus the 1,7x TC. The AF is lightening fast, when refocused. But it does not give accurate auto focus, and what is the point of AF when it's not accurate? So now I am using a K 500/4,5. Alone or with a 1,4x TC (a gentleman on the list is lending me the TC). Jens. I believe your 200-500 is a f:5,6, that's similar to my 150-500. For me, the half step down to f:4,5 was significant improvement concerning manual focus. And to Scott. For me, choosing between the K400/5.6 or a K500/4.5 is a no- brainer. The half step difference is significant. At least in the photographing I do now. My experience is that AF does not make me a better "hunter". On the contrary: The sights on the 500mm (combined with a flexible tripod), makes me faster. A few words about flexible tripod: I've also bought a Manfrotto gimbal mount head. I believe that's this money is my best spent money on photo equipment. That's what I call an enablement! It makes the rough framing lightening fast, and fine tuning the composition is just as fast. But the tools are not what make you a good or a bad "hunter" (assuming the optical quality is acceptable). In most hunting you sit at a post waiting for the birds (or whatever you are "hunting") to come. So the trick is being able to predict where the motif will show up, and to find the perfect place to hide. Next is being there at the right time. When you have the bird in sight, then you can work on the framing, exposure, focus and so on. Usually if you have done a good job in front, you have all the time you need, because you have been good at predicting. Predicting where the bird will show up, the angle, the light, the background and so on. About talking you out of it Scott, it all comes down to you. What are your photographic interests? And how much money and time do you want to spend on these interests? About the quality of the suggested lenses: I don't know the 400. And I'm still getting to know the 500, but my experiences so far does not suggest that there is something wrong about it. It's a beast, but beasts can be tamed ;-) Tim Mostly harmless (just plain Norwegian) -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of J. C. O'Connell Sent: 22. oktober 2006 03:39 To: 'Pentax-Discuss Mail List' Subject: RE: Somebody talk me out of it I think you meant to say MOVING subjects Are difficult with long lenses without AF and I agree but for non moving subjects, stopped down a little, And reasonably fast long lenses MF is not Difficult at all due to the shallow depth Of field with the lenses wide open. jco -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jens Bladt Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2006 1:23 PM To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Subject: RE: Somebody talk me out of it Talking you out of this is quite easy, I believe. Long lenses with MF are VERY difficult to use successfully. It's quite hard to get aniting moving or prone to moving (birds, dear, people etc.) in focus with a 400-500mm lens without AF. It willl probably end up sitting on a shelf somewhere. My 200-500mm did. Go get an AF Sigma 170-500mm and an AF body! Of cource, that won't exactly please you wife, would it? :-) Regards Jens Bladt http://www.jensbladt.dk +45 56 63 77 11 +45 23 43 85 77 Skype: jensbladt248 -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] vegne af Scott Loveless Sendt: 18. oktober 2006 00:44 Til: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Emne: Somebody talk me out of it I'm thinking about buying either a K400/5.6 or a K500/4.5. Primary use would be 35mm film, but it will certainly be mounted on the K100D from time to time. Anyone have any input on image quality? Is either significantly better than the other? And for my wife's peace of mind, would someone mind talking me out of buying one? <g> Thanks! -- Scott Loveless http://www.twosixteen.com Shoot more film! -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/477 - Release Date: 10/16/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.9/490 - Release Date: 10/20/2006 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
