300mm suggestion again?

[battleaxe]

I am back at it again and I am looking for a 300mm. either prime or zoom suggestion. If prime I prefer something 4.5-f5 range, and for zoom, no slower than f5.6. I will be using this for wildlife and such. I also don't want a lens overtly heavy or hard to focus with if possible. I've done some searches but there seems to be a few too many options in the 300mm range(be it prime or zoom), and not sure which one is worth it or not. Thank you.

 

[RnR]

Canon FD 300mm f4 L - only heard good things about this lens.

 

[OzRay]

If manual focussing is not an issue, the Nikon 300mm f4 is worth considering: http://www.bythom.com/300lens.htm/. I have one and it's a sweet lens.

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[battleaxe]

I don't mind manual zoom anything. Is both the Nikon and Canon both manual aperture? And can they be had at a fair price(like say under $180 in solid shape)?

Edit: your link doesn't work.

 

[alex66]

How about looking for an M42 or T mount lens? there are a plethora that can be had for less than £50 then at least you can get an idea if MF is tolerable at that focal length on m43.

 

[Robstar1963]

How about an Olympus F.Zuiko Auto T 300mm f4.5
Regards
Rob

 

[Glenn S]

How about an Olympus F.Zuiko Auto T 300mm f4.5
Regards
Rob

I have one of those, it's a brute but pretty good stopped down

 

[Replytoken]

I don't mind manual zoom anything. Is both the Nikon and Canon both manual aperture? And can they be had at a fair price(like say under $180 in solid shape)?

Edit: your link doesn't work.

The Nikon does allow for aperture control, but I highly doubt that you are going to find one for $180 in solid shape.

--Ken

 

[battleaxe]

What do you suggest in under $180 range then that can be found in solid shape?

 

[usayit]

What do you suggest in under $180 range then that can be found in solid shape?

First thought in my mind..... is the Takumar SMC 300mm f/4

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/S-M-C-Super-Takumar-300mm-F4.html

I'm a bit biased as I collect Takumars. You can also find cheaper deals on older versions of the Takumar but with lesser quality in coatings and more CA creeping iinto the image with bright contrasty conditions.

Second though in my mind....

http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/54B.html

You'll be surprised by Tamron SP lenses from 80s. Quick google for samples and reviews seem good. Since it has an adpatall mount, you can get the adaptall that matches the mount adapters you already own.

 

[usayit]

Also,

I have used the Tele-Takumar 300mm f/6.3 M42 with success on the E-PL1. Its an aperture preset lens with older dated optics. But its small and lightweight. The reason I didnt mention it earlier is that it doesnt' make your request at max aperture.

There are a few reviews of this lens here:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Tele-Takumar-300mm-F6.3.html

This is one sample with adapted to an E-PL1. I'm sure I have others but as with older adapted lenses you can't search by EXIF.

 

[alex66]

First thought in my mind..... is the Takumar SMC 300mm f/4

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/S-M-C-Super-Takumar-300mm-F4.html

I'm a bit biased as I collect Takumars. You can also find cheaper deals on older versions of the Takumar but with lesser quality in coatings and more CA creeping iinto the image with bright contrasty conditions.

Second though in my mind....

http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/54B.html

You'll be surprised by Tamron SP lenses from 80s. Quick google for samples and reviews seem good. Since it has an adpatall mount, you can get the adaptall that matches the mount adapters you already own.

I have had a couple of Takumar lenses and they were very good and the Tamron Adaptall lenses I had were very good for the price. Also worth looking at are some of the old Vivitar lenses, Helios (USSR Zenith) made some nice glass but watch as some were a 39mm thread and Tokina who were set up by ex Nikon optics engineers/designers. You may also find some good off main line makers lenses such as Ricoh. Canon FD lenses also can be good value as it is an orphan mount but they still made some pro level lenses, it may also be worth your while popping over to the MF Lenses forum to see if they have some ideas, some there have gone through hundreds of lenses.

 

[biomed]

I use a Nikkor 300/4.5 Ai. I bought it used for less than $150. It is in near mint shape with only a couple of light marks on the barrel. It is an easy lens to focus although the focus and aperture rings rotate opposite the direction most lenses do. It is very well made and came with a tripod collar. I have posted this photo of it mounted on my GX7 (or should that be the other way around) several times.

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Here are some sample images -

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Mike

 

[barry]

My Dad's SMC Tak 300 f4 was significantly less sharp on the E-M1 than the ZD 70-300mm, and had severe CA.

I have sample shots.

The 300mm mu-43 mirror lenses are probably sharper, don't need an adapter, and list new for $200-250.
They will have donuts in the bokeh though.

Barry




Sent from my iPad using Mu-43

 

[barry]

Oh yeah... And the SMC 300mm is enormous and weighs a ton.
Not really practical to try to hand-hold it.

Barry


Sent from my iPad using Mu-43

 

[usayit]

Oh yeah... And the SMC 300mm is enormous and weighs a ton.
Not really practical to try to hand-hold it.

Barry


Sent from my iPad using Mu-43

Look at this one that is being sold.... You can see it attached to a pentax DSLR in the first picture. Its not that big.

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...cellent-condition-complete-worldwide-shi.html

There are three versions... older ones being significantly larger and heavier than the later.

Later version weighing in at 946g with a 77mm filter size

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/S-M-C-Super-Takumar-300mm-F4.html

Older version weighing in at 1575g (bigger in all dimensions) with a 82mm size

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Takumar-300mm-F4-1962.html

Even Older version weighing in at 1360g with a 82mm filter size

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Takumar-300mm-F4-1958.html



Incidentally, the lightest one of the group is the one I mentioned 300mm f6.3 at 729g. Its not an SMC though....

 

[battleaxe]

I looked on ebay, for the Tamron SP 300mm f5.6, but couldn't find one.

What about Mamiya 300mm f/5.6 Sekor C?

 

[usayit]

I looked on ebay, for the Tamron SP 300mm f5.6, but couldn't find one.

What about Mamiya 300mm f/5.6 Sekor C?

Probably just wrong timing. I have seen them on ebay off and on...

Here's a used one listed by Adorama.

http://www.adorama.com/US 639718.html



Sorry.. I am not familiar with the Mamiya.

 

[battleaxe]

All I know is Mamiya is medium format.

 

[barry]

Later version weighing in at 946g with a 77mm filter size

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/S-M-C-Super-Takumar-300mm-F4.html

That's the one I had, fwiw.

BTW, the SMC 200 I had is significantly sharper (magnified) than the SMC 300, and the 200 had much less CA.

Samples attached; all 100% crops from SOOC JPEGs, on my E-M1, taken within a 15-minute period during the April 2014 lunar eclipse.
I believe all were taken at F/8.

SMC 300mm:

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ZD 70-300mm with MMF-3 adapter:

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SMC 200mm:

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I realize the first two are overexposed, but I wanted to show 2 pics of the same subject with similar exposure.
I have other test images of a fence and both SMCs have CA and are not very sharp.

Barry