Advice on Cheapish 500mm+ lens for Pentax K

peetj

peetj

Messages
2
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi All,

I'm looking for a budget long lens. I have a Tamron 70-300 f4-5.6 which has served me pretty well so far, but I'm looking for something with a bit more reach. I have a K-30 Body.

I'd like to use it for shooting the moon, long distance sports photography such as filming surfers several hundred metres off-shore, and the occasional bit of nature photography if I happen upon it.

There seem to be a few options:
  1. 500/800/1000mm mirror lens (with or without Teleconverter)
  2. Various cheap-o lenses such as the top-max 420-800mm, which you can get on amazon/ebay
  3. Some old manual lenses such as the vivitar 120-600mm which crop up from time to time.
  4. Get a good quality lens such as a 70-200 f/2.8 or a fast prime and add 2x/3x teleconverters for increased zoom.
  5. Other options?
I don't mind manual focusing, any thing which is far away is likely to be remain there :)
Ideally I don't want to spend much more than a couple of hundred pounds.But for 4. I don't mind spending a bit more as I get a nice lens when not using the TC.

Any opinions on what would be the best bang per buck? My 300mm does the job most of the time, but it would be nice to be able to shoot at longer distances if possible.

Cheers,
Pete
 
Hello and a very warm welcome to you Pete

Useful Sections for New Members (click links)

> The Help section contains some good general information about how we do things around here and how the forum works.
> FAQs and Guides can be found here.
> Forum Help and Support is there for you to ask questions and get one to one support if you're having problems finding your way around or working out how to do things.
> Link up with other photographers in your area for local events and days out in Meeting Place.
> Or maybe you fancy a challenge . . . Take a look at some of the organised TP challenges and competitions here.

That is a tight budget for the lens you specify Pete. I wouldn't go down the mirror lens route if I were you, there cheap for a reason. The long range zooms of Sigma are a good option but you would almost have to double your budget. Look at the 50-5000 Sigma or the Sigma 170-500mm

You would also get more response to your question by re-posting in this section of the forums.(y)
 
Hi and welcome to the Forum, Mirror lenses are fine for things like Moon shots, wouldnt want to use them on anything moveing, the Top max is basically a cheap telescope, you can get the Sigma 500mm lens in PK mount fairly cheaply, probably a better bet than a 70-200 2.8 with convertor, a decent 2x convertor will eat up most of your budget, might help if you say your location, as to whether there are any decent places near you could try out some lenses.
 
Cheers guys, I've been trying to find a cheap Bigma, but they don't come up too often with a PK mount.
I'm in Newcastle Upon Tyne, cheers :)
 
Don't discount something like a Meyer-Gorlitz (Pentacon) 500/5.6 Orestegor (various mounts available).....£200-250 should get you one in reasonable condition.

Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top