Test: Nikon - Pentax K adapter with Sigma 300/4 APO macro !

Hi!

I'm very excited about this my new Nikon-Pentax K adapter - and especially about Sigma 300/4 APO macro lens! ...As I'm kind of "poor man" shooter, I don't have money for costly DA 300/4 prime - but I was lucky, and I got this Sigma 300mm prime for about 300$...I think it's quite underrated lens:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=129&sort=7&cat=38&page=1

http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Sigma-300-F4--Macro-APO_lens201.html



Misfortune, it is almost impossible to get for Pentax mount. Also this my version is Nikon AF.
But I bought this kind of adapter from ebay (about 35$):





So now I can use this Sigma as manual lens with my K-7, also Nikon-PK adapter has 1.33x tele converter effect - so this combination is something like 400mm f/5.3.

I have lots of plans for how I will use this lens and for what kind of modifications:

• I maybe buy Kenko 1.5x SHQ TC for Nikon and change its other bayonet to Pentax K bayonet...That way I can mount Nikon lenses to this TC and mount TC to the Pentax DSLR.

• I get another Nikon-PK adapter, and remove its glass element to get better optical performance, but then I can't focus than maybe up to 20 meter...But it will be incredible 300mm macro lens then ;-)

• One possibility is that I change Sigma's Nikon bayonet to Pentax K (I already asked the local sigma service, if they have Pentax bayonet spare parts to this lens - and they have ;-)...Maybe also cheap ebay flange M42-PK adapters could be use...)

BUT, my brother have Nikon DSLR, and I might not want to break Sigma's Nikon AF system as we shoot quite a lot together and he could use this nice lens too!

Anyway, next I will post my first real life test shots with that lens + Nikon -PK adapter, also some comparison with Tamron 70-300 LD Di lens...

cheers,

Ari

--

• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Very interesting. I was looking for this lens for Pentax; too expensive. Finally I bought the DA*300/4 for 900 euros (with the Tokina acromatic close-up lens for the 80-400, that has 0,4 diopters, I can focus up to 0,9m, getting scale 0,37 (measured)). Good idea to try with Nikon. As the registration distance is the same, your plan to modify the Kenko is promising. Good luck.

Cheers - Klaus

All shots handheld with K-7 (SR on)...Sigma 300/4 APO macro with adapter, and Tamron 70-300 LD Di always at 300mm.

1. Indoor shots with built-in flash
Sigma 300/4, f/4 (f/5.3)



Tamron 70-300 at 300mm, f/7.1



100% crops:
Sigma



Tamron



2. Outdoor shots with cloudy day

Sigma 300/4, f/4 (f/5.3)



Tamron 70-300 at 300mm, f/5.6



100% crops:
Sigma



Tamron



3.

Sigma 300/4, f/4 (f/5.3)



Tamron 70-300 at 300mm, f/7.1



100% crops:
Sigma



Tamron



C&C welcome!

Ari

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• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

All shots handheld with K-7 (SR on)...Sigma 300/4 APO macro with adapter, and Tamron 70-300 LD Di always at 300mm.

4.

Sigma 300/4, f/5.6 (f/7.4)



Tamron 70-300 at 300mm, f/8



100% crops:
Sigma



Tamron



5. Now closer...

Sigma 300/4, f/4 (f/5.3)



Tamron 70-300 at 300mm, f/8



100% crops:
Sigma



Tamron



I was surprised how well that adapter (with quite simple glass element) actually worked. Of course it's far away from perfect, but at least it did a better job with Sigma than what tammy 70-300 can show...Well - that not maybe much, but promising what comes to Sigma 300/4 APO macro performance! I can't wait proper tests with good tele converter/without adapter!

regards,

Ari

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• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Three Sigma 300/4+adapter samples more ;-)

Yep, very modest snapshots, but I already like what I see (colours, bokeh)...All wide open:

6.



7.



8.



I will post more my experiences with that combo when I get that modified 1.5x TC and adapter without built-in glass.

Ari

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• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Hi - thank you for comment!

Nicols said:

Very interesting. I was looking for this lens for Pentax; too expensive. Finally I bought the DA*300/4 for 900 euros (with the Tokina acromatic close-up lens for the 80-400, that has 0,4 diopters, I can focus up to 0,9m, getting scale 0,37 (measured)). Good idea to try with Nikon. As the registration distance is the same,

Click to expand...

well - almost the same -Nikon: 46,5mm, Pentax: 45,5mm...1mm is not maybe too much with these tele lenses.

Nicols said:

your plan to modify the Kenko is promising. Good luck.

Click to expand...

I surely hope so; 300/4 lens+1.5x TC= 450mm, f/6 - quite ideal for my "poor man's" wildlife use...If I can handle that manual focusing, then...;-)

Ari

Nicols said:

Cheers - Klaus

Click to expand...

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• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Hi Ari,

I've been working on using the Nikon 400mm f2.8 on the Pentax. The adapter that you have works OK but I am also looking for something better.

Here is the Nikon lens to M42 body adapter. You can then screw on an M42 to PK. This is the one I am working with right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-Lens-To-All-M42-Screw-Mount-Camera-Adapter_W0QQitemZ280482540469QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_Accessories?hash=item414e0febb5

My Nikon 400mm f2.8 with the Nikon-PK adapter (glass correction element) will focus to infinity. Image is degraded more than I want.

My Nikon 400mm f2.8 with the Nikon to Pentax as I described above (no glass elements) will not focus to infinity. Will focus to about 100 feet. With a Nikon TC-14B will focus to about 300 feet. With a Promaster 1.7X for Nikon will focus to about 500 feet. With a Nikon TC-16A will focus to about 1/4 mile. With a Vivitar 1.5X-3 will focus to about 500 feet. With a Nikon TC-301 (2x teleconverter) will focus to infinity. With the Nikon 400mm f2.8 + Nikon TC-16A + Pentax-F 1.7X AF Adapter can autofocus at a mile or more. Can set the lens to about f8 and manual focus at about 4 miles.

I have destroyed two Nikon type teleconverters by trying to convert them to have a Pentax mount on the rear. I am no longer very good at this kind of work and so I give up.

So, I will probably just use this combo the most like the two methods below:

(1) - Nikon 400mm f2.8 + Nikon TC-301 (2X TC) + Nikon to Pk (without the corrective glass) which give me a very good 800mm f5.6

(2) - Nikon 400mm f2.8 + Nikon TC-16A (1.6X TC) + Nikon to Pk (without the corrective glass) + Pentax-F 1.7X AF Adapter which give me a 1088mm autofocusing (in good light) f7.6 lens.

I was up the canyon about an hour ago and I see the Bighorn Sheep are back. I will be doing some test shots with my Nikon lens to Pentax camera setup in the next day or so. I will keep the forum up to date on my progress.

Good luck with your setup Ari.

Cheers.

Ron

--

'The first thing I do each morning is grab one of my Pentax DSLR cameras and stroll to the mirror just so I can start the day off with a double dose of beauty.' ~ brandrx

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

Here is the first work I did with the Nikon 400mm f2.8 on Feb 10, 2010. I don't have the images up any longer but some of the posts might give you some insight.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=34504370

Here are some good sites concerning Nikon teleconverters.
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_converter.html

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/teleconverter/index5.htm

...and maybe your brother would like to modify the Nikon TC-16A to work on later model Nikon bodies. The Nikon TC-16A was designed to make manual focus Nikon lenses into autofocusing lenses. Works like the Pentax-F 1.7X AFA.
http://www.foolography.com/free-stuff/modify-tc-16a/

Cheers.

--

'The first thing I do each morning is grab one of my Pentax DSLR cameras and stroll to the mirror just so I can start the day off with a double dose of beauty.' ~ brandrx

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

If you can find a Kiron 1.5X Match Mate MC N/AI it would be the very easiest to put on a flanged M42/PK mount.

It also looks to me that the Vivitar 1.5X-3 would be fairly easy to modify with a flanged M42/PK mount.

Perhaps someday I will find somebody that can do one of these for me. As I said in another post....I can no longer do work like this. It is just too delicate for me.

Cheers.

--

'The first thing I do each morning is grab one of my Pentax DSLR cameras and stroll to the mirror just so I can start the day off with a double dose of beauty.' ~ brandrx

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

I have solved the problem.....for me at least. No Nikon to PK adapters are required. No modifying Nikon bayonet to Pentax bayonet. I sent you some info in the email. In time I will post this startling discovery in the forum.....after I full check it out.

Cheers.

--

'The first thing I do each morning is grab one of my Pentax DSLR cameras and stroll to the mirror just so I can start the day off with a double dose of beauty.' ~ brandrx

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

Actually the lens is not underrated as it is well known to be a fine lens. Just hard to find in PK. Similar to the Sigma 400/5.6 Tele-Macro in design. Both are very good. Art Morris used to recommend both lenses as the best cheap BIF lens when you can't afford an OEM one.
Kent Gittings

KentG said:

Actually the lens is not underrated as it is well known to be a fine lens. Just hard to find in PK. Similar to the Sigma 400/5.6 Tele-Macro in design. Both are very good. Art Morris used to recommend both lenses as the best cheap BIF lens when you can't afford an OEM one.
Kent Gittings

Click to expand...

I've got one in Pentax mount. When I first got it it was a thrill to use. Now it seems that something is wrong with it. It seems to work OK when shooting at subjects that are 30 feet or closer. However, if going longer then it doesn't do too well. Even looking in the viewfinder is terrible. Images are soft until f8 at least. I am beginning to think it might have some lens separation. Anyway, I don't use the danged thing anymore. I guess I could put some paper under it.

Cheers.

--

'The first thing I do each morning is grab one of my Pentax DSLR cameras and stroll to the mirror just so I can start the day off with a double dose of beauty.' ~ brandrx

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

Wow, great find Ari!

These shots look great - the lack of CA is surprising.

Hi Ron. Very interesting information, and promising the last massage. Curious about the new solution. Glad that we will know.

Cheers - Klaus

Hi,

photogerald said:

Wow, great find Ari!

These shots look great - the lack of CA is surprising.

Click to expand...

Yes, I'm very happy for its optical performance. Sigma APO lenses never disappoint what comes to CA. These my samples are taken with this cheap Nikon - PK adapter with poor glass element inside...I just ordered Kenko PRO300 1.4x TC and will modify it to pentax mount - can't wait what kind of performance it shows then ;-)

thank you for reply,,
Ari

--

• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Hi,

brandrx said:

Hi Ari,

I've been working on using the Nikon 400mm f2.8 on the Pentax. The adapter that you have works OK but I am also looking for something better.

Click to expand...

Yes - me too; I just ordered Kenko PRO300 1.4x TC (for Nikon) and will modify it to pentax mount - can't wait what kind of performance it shows then ;-)

brandrx said:

Here is the Nikon lens to M42 body adapter. You can then screw on an M42 to PK. This is the one I am working with right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-Lens-To-All-M42-Screw-Mount-Camera-Adapter_W0QQitemZ280482540469QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_Accessories?hash=item414e0febb5

Click to expand...

Yes! Thank you so much for a hint...I just ordered one. I suppose that it is considerably thinner than this cheap Nikon-> PK adapter with glass element?

brandrx said:

I was up the canyon about an hour ago and I see the Bighorn Sheep are back. I will be doing some test shots with my Nikon lens to Pentax camera setup in the next day or so. I will keep the forum up to date on my progress.

Click to expand...

Yes, please do so - I would like to see results with your very interesting setups!

regards,

Ari

--

• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Ari Aikomus said:

brandrx said:

Hi Ari,

I've been working on using the Nikon 400mm f2.8 on the Pentax. The adapter that you have works OK but I am also looking for something better.

Click to expand...

Yes - me too; I just ordered Kenko PRO300 1.4x TC (for Nikon) and will modify it to pentax mount - can't wait what kind of performance it shows then ;-)

Ari Aikomus said:

Here is the Nikon lens to M42 body adapter. You can then screw on an M42 to PK. This is the one I am working with right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-Lens-To-All-M42-Screw-Mount-Camera-Adapter_W0QQitemZ280482540469QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_Accessories?hash=item414e0febb5

Click to expand...

Yes! Thank you so much for a hint...I just ordered one. I suppose that it is considerably thinner than this cheap Nikon-> PK adapter with glass element?

Click to expand...

They are the same thickness.

Before you modify your Kenko Pro 3000 1.4X TC, I would like to know how far you can focus it when attached to this Nikon/M42 adapter. I am going to assume about 100 feet but would like to know for sure. Thanks.

Cheers.

--

'The first thing I do each morning is grab one of my Pentax DSLR cameras and stroll to the mirror just so I can start the day off with a double dose of beauty.' ~ brandrx

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

Hellou,

brandrx said:

brandrx said:

brandrx said:

Here is the Nikon lens to M42 body adapter. You can then screw on an M42 to PK. This is the one I am working with right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-Lens-To-All-M42-Screw-Mount-Camera-Adapter_W0QQitemZ280482540469QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_Accessories?hash=item414e0febb5

Click to expand...

Yes! Thank you so much for a hint...I just ordered one. I suppose that it is considerably thinner than this cheap Nikon-> PK adapter with glass element?

Click to expand...

They are the same thickness.

Click to expand...

same thickness? Okey, so - now it does not matter if I use Nikon -> PK adapter without glass element, or this Nikon lens-> M42 adapter?

brandrx said:

Before you modify your Kenko Pro 3000 1.4X TC, I would like to know how far you can focus it when attached to this Nikon/M42 adapter. I am going to assume about 100 feet but would like to know for sure. Thanks.

Click to expand...

Yep, I will do that! I just wonder if it's optically always better to use adapter (kind of ext.tube) front of TC than behind it (between TC and camera)?

cheers,

Ari

p.s. I sent email to you

brandrx said:

Cheers.

--

'The first thing I do each morning is grab one of my Pentax DSLR cameras and stroll to the mirror just so I can start the day off with a double dose of beauty.' ~ brandrx

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

Click to expand...

--

• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Thank you so much for a comment!

KentG said:

Actually the lens is not underrated as it is well known to be a fine lens. Just hard to find in PK. Similar to the Sigma 400/5.6 Tele-Macro in design. Both are very good. Art Morris used to recommend both lenses as the best cheap BIF lens when you can't afford an OEM one.
Kent Gittings

Click to expand...

I tried it also with Nikon D200, and AF was actually quite slow - however don't know how good AF could be in BIF shootings...But I feel that optically this is almost superb 300/4 lens...No CA, nice bokeh, sharpness even wide open and even pretty great close focus ability.

Ari

--

• Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Ari Aikomus said:

Hi!

I'm very excited about this my new Nikon-Pentax K adapter - and especially about Sigma 300/4 APO macro lens! ...As I'm kind of "poor man" shooter, I don't have money for costly DA 300/4 prime - but I was lucky, and I got this Sigma 300mm prime for about 300$...I think it's quite underrated lens:

• I get another Nikon-PK adapter, and remove its glass element to get better optical performance, but then I can't focus than maybe up to 20 meter...But it will be incredible 300mm macro lens then ;-)

Click to expand...

I have an old AI Nikon 80-200 zoom that I use on my Kx without an adaptor. I can focus to infinity.

As the AI lenses don't fit well, I clipped off the metering lugs. This may or may not be an issue with your brother's Nikon. It depends on which model he has.

Not only does it fit very well, it enables the Catch in Focus feature.

Here are some shots with it. Keep in mind these are resized images. The originals are very sharp

Allan