Comments about Pentax Pentax DA 300mm f/4.0 ED (IF) SDM Auto Focus Lens with Hood - U.S.A.:

Been using a sigma 170-500 non hsm lens. Finally got the combination right with this purchase.
Staying in AUH, donot get many choices for Pentax. Thanks adorama for having such a good variety for pentax.

Comments about Pentax Pentax DA 300mm f/4.0 ED (IF) SDM Auto Focus Lens with Hood - U.S.A.:

As I write this review, I'm looking at a image of a Lanner Falcon (native to the middle-east and a favorite of the Arab shieks) in my photo browser that I took on 8/22 at the Cinti. Zoo. The bird show keeper brought out three birds for members of my photo club to shoot. Wish you could see the detail in the feathers of this beautiful bird. I'm still getting used to the lens on my K20D. I used a bushhawk shoulder stock and shot @ 125 to 180th and between F4.5 and 8 (ISO 400). They weren't quiet as sharp as the birds on my backyard feeder, but those were shot on a weighted-down tripod using a cable release. The zoo shots were very good and the bokeh was wonderful! I'm looking forward to using this lens on a tripod at the zoo soon. Well worth the investment. By the way, just sold my older FA* 300MM Pentax [...] for 89% of what I paid for it six years ago! Pentax rocks!

Comments about Pentax Pentax DA 300mm f/4.0 ED (IF) SDM Auto Focus Lens with Hood - U.S.A.:

I had a Bigma (Sigma 50-500mm), which I used on an Alaskan Cruise. But when I got back I decided to sell it and get this lens (Pentax DA*300/4) because of weight, better aperture, and weatherproof.

I found while trekking about Alaska, that my backpack was starting to feel heavier and heavier as the day wore on. The biggest problem was the Bigma, it was the heaviest lens in my backpack.

Also, while out on a boat shooting photos of whales, I had to be careful not to get the Bigma wet because of the salt spray and drizzle. In a nutshell, I decided to get the DA*300/4 for the weatherproof sealing, larger aperture for better focus in the less than ideal light, and it is much lighter to pack around.

I wasn't disappointed in performance either! The first thing that I noticed is - what seemed to be broken focus. Nope, it wasn't broken - it was super quiet! The SDM focusing in this lens is fast and quiet. The lens is sharp, sharp, sharp too! I have a K20D, and pixel peep to see what a new lens resolves. This lens out-resolves what the K20D can show. That's right, the lens is sharper than the camera can resolve. So, when Pentax comes out with the next higher sensor, this lens will work just fine.

I can't say what the negatives are, I haven't found any yet.

It also works just fine with a standard 1.4X teleconverter. The images show very little degradation (another testament to how sharp the lens is to start with!).

Comments about Pentax Pentax DA 300mm f/4.0 ED (IF) SDM Auto Focus Lens with Hood - U.S.A.:

Very sharp wide-open and continues through f16. High quality build. Bokeh is smooth and buttery.