M 300/4

JelleNL · Mar 2, 2006

At the moment I am one click away from buying a pentax M 300/4. The only problem is that I am uncertain if it is the on I think it is...

According to bdimitrov the only M-series 300 mm lens pentax has made is the M* 300/4. But I asked the seller if it was this one (added a picture of it) and he said: ,,No, it is not the compact one, but the other.'

Is there anonther 300 mm M-series? And if...how aubout its perfomance? Picture's of it? samples?

Thanks,

JelleNL

BTW, this was the picture I send him:

JelleNL · Mar 2, 2006

Could he be talking about the K300/4? It is bigger...
How it its performance? Compared to the M*300/4?

JelleNL

John Mc Dermott · Mar 2, 2006

There's only one M version, there is also an A version but that looks the same as the M. There ar "K" and screw fit versions that look similar and much larger than the M I expect it's one of those.

.Sam. · Mar 2, 2006

hmm... I've seem M/300/4 (not a ) with small front element. (58mm or so). A local store was selling it for $200

It's interesting that it's not listed at "bdimitrov" site !!?
--
.Sam.

PhotoBlog: http://www.shadzee.com/ - Gallery: http://shadzee.smugmug.com/

JelleNL · Mar 2, 2006

.Sam. said:
hmm... I've seem M/300/4 (not a ) with small front element. (58mm
or so).

Anyone know more about this one? pictures of it? performance?

JelleNL

JelleNL · Mar 2, 2006

I just recieved a reply from the seller, and it indeed apears to be the K300/4. How is the quality of this lens? does it compare to the M and A 300's? Any experience/samples?

Thanks,

JelleNL

Don Allison · Mar 2, 2006

If it's the K300 you may want to stay away from it, especially if you're expecting the quality of the M* and A*. The latter are rated as superb optics and they came with a special coating to remove ghosting and glare that the K version does not feature.
--

'Nothing could-be-finah-than-to-be-in-Carolina-in-the-morninnnnnn...'

fwcetus · Mar 2, 2006

JelleNL said:
JelleNL said:

hmm... I've seem M/300/4 (not a ) with small front element. (58mm
or so).

Click to expand...

Anyone know more about this one? pictures of it? performance?

No such critter - couldn't be.

A 300mm lens that's also an f/4 lens needs a front element aperture of about 75mm. (300/4=75)

A 300mm lens with 58mm filter threads has probably no more than about 52mm or so for its front element clear aperture, which results in a speed of not much faster than about f/6. (300/52=5.8)

[Even if the actual front element diameter is really 58mm, the speed would still be slower than f/5. (300/5.8=5.2)]

I wonder if the "300" with the 58mm front threads might be the K 200/4...

--
Fred

Reuben0 · Mar 2, 2006

.Sam. said:
hmm... I've seem M/300/4 (not a ) with small front element. (58mm
or so). A local store was selling it for $200

It's interesting that it's not listed at "bdimitrov" site !!?

I'm afraid you must be mistaken Sam - there is no "M/300/4 (not a )".

I've got the M-series lens brochure in front of me (from 1983) and it only shows the M* and the K versions.

--
Cheers,
Reuben0

wjwncpro_Ds · Mar 2, 2006

Don Allison said:
If it's the K300 you may want to stay away from it, especially if
you're expecting the quality of the M* and A*. The latter are rated
as superb optics and they came with a special coating to remove
ghosting and glare that the K version does not feature.

This is the K300/f4, I have only taken a couple of pics with it and it will be a keeper. I paid $220 for this one in like new condition. The A* goes for 3 times the price and if Pentax made ' ' lenses when this one was made, it would also have a ' '. The only thing missing from this lens is a tripod collar.

This is the 1st pic I took with this lens

and another

--
It's in the 'signature' ;-} wjwncpro (GMT-6)

Current level on the learning curve.........^...................................................

fwcetus · Mar 2, 2006

wjwncpro_Ds said:
Don Allison said:

If it's the K300 you may want to stay away from it, especially if
you're expecting the quality of the M* and A*. The latter are rated
as superb optics and they came with a special coating to remove
ghosting and glare that the K version does not feature.

Click to expand...

This is the K300/f4, I have only taken a couple of pics with it and
it will be a keeper. I paid $220 for this one in like new
condition. The A* goes for 3 times the price and if Pentax made ' '
lenses when this one was made, it would also have a ' '. The only
thing missing from this lens is a tripod collar.

The K 300/4 does not have any low-dispersion glass (as do the M* and A* 300/4's), but is otherwise (IMHO) not all that different in its optical properties. I'd say that the M* and A* are a tad sharper, but the difference is small. (The biggest difference between the K and the others is size and weight - {g}.)

--
Fred

astroguy0 · Mar 2, 2006

.Sam. said:
hmm... I've seem M/300/4 (not a ) with small front element. (58mm
or so). A local store was selling it for $200

It's interesting that it's not listed at "bdimitrov" site !!?
--
.Sam.

That must've been a 300/5.6 then. The front element can't physically be that small and be an F/4.

The front element is the size of the focal length divided by the focal ratio. Example 300/4 = 75mm, hence the popular 77mm filters for 300mm F/4 lens.

astroguy0 · Mar 2, 2006

ooops I see that someone already beat me to it.
I should read the thread next time before I post.

JelleNL · Mar 2, 2006

This tree picture doesn't look very sharp to me...Is is just unsharp or is it motion blur?

JelleNL

wjwncpro_Ds · Mar 2, 2006

JelleNL said:
This tree picture doesn't look very sharp to me...Is is just
unsharp or is it motion blur?

I would say motion...

I used a monopod with it and was also leaning against my door jam and shot at 1/20 iso200. I don't remember what f stop it was but at my age, I should have used a tripod. Any blur is due to my skill level...LoL
--
It's in the 'signature' ;-} wjwncpro (GMT-6)

Current level on the learning curve.........^...................................................

rhodaras · Mar 2, 2006

hi, sorry for the question that is a different story. but as i can see, it is active here i would like to ask.

by the da 18-55 mm lens we means digital focal lenght and for example zenitar 16 mm is a focal lenght for analog cameras. am i wright?

make this clear to me, please.

thank you

astroguy0 · Mar 2, 2006

rhodaras said:
hi, sorry for the question that is a different story. but as i can
see, it is active here i would like to ask.

by the da 18-55 mm lens we means digital focal lenght and for
example zenitar 16 mm is a focal lenght for analog cameras. am i
wright?

make this clear to me, please.

thank you

I was confused about that also when I first started playing with DSLRs. But 18mm on the kit lens is identical to 18mm on a film camera lens, just that the imaging circle is smaller so it's cheaper to make.

alex wetmore · Mar 2, 2006

.Sam. said:
hmm... I've seem M/300/4 (not a ) with small front element. (58mm
or so). A local store was selling it for $200

Not possible. I expect it was the M 200/4.

$200 seems quite steep. If anyone wants one for $200 please contact me, I'll happily sell mine at that price.

The M 200/4 is a nice lens for it's size, but not great. It isn't very sharp wide open but otherwise it is pretty good. The A 70-210/4 isn't much larger and is sharper.

alex

rhodaras · Mar 2, 2006

thanx

JerryWhite · Mar 2, 2006

I've got the K300/4 (bought new 27 years ago) and tried it on my DS2 for the first time a few days ago. I posted an example shot:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=17376968

Note that the shot was hand-held and my PP skills are minimal. This lens is a big sucker, and with a 35 mm equivalent of 450 mm, a tripod will be essential for most if not all shots. Since I already own it and the DS2 adapts so well to this old lens, I may use it occasionally - I'm not sure I'd buy one however.

Jerry

M 300/4

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