One nice exciting development for Pentax AF owners is the support of Sigma for Pentax AF. Their prices are comparatively low, and Sigma's quality has come up significantly in recent years.
Comments: [email protected]
The 300mm f2.8 Comparison Page for Pentax AF
|
All the major manufacturers have Big Glass. Some have outstanding features, some outstanding price, and all are generally considered to be fine optics. Since Sigma is the only third-party manufacturer that offers Big Glass for Pentax AF, Sigma lenses are included in this comparison when applicable. | |
| I like the
300mm 2.8 lenses, even though I don't own one. They are
much smaller and lighter than the other lenses that
qualify as Big Glass. Coupled to a good AF 2X
teleconvertor, they can be as sharp as a 600/4 is at f4,
but of course they are a stop slower. One nice exciting development for Pentax AF owners is the support of Sigma for Pentax AF. Their prices are comparatively low, and Sigma's quality has come up significantly in recent years.
|
Sigma also offers two new AF teleconverters matched to their long lenses. Both are bargain priced compared to N, C, M and Pentax teleconvertors. | One caveat: Sigma has had compatibility issues in the past with Pentax aperture information electronics. Be sure to use your inspection period to verify the usability of any Sigma lens on your particular Pentax body. |
| Lens | Angle of View |
Groups/ Elements |
Min. Focus | Filter | Diameter x Length | Weight | Cost, 1999 US Dollars |
| Pentax FA* 300mm f/2.8 ED[IF] | 8.2 | 7/10 | 6.6' (2m) | 43mm internal | 4.8" x 9.7" (123mm x 247mm) |
5.5 lb (88.2 oz) (2495 g) |
$4699 new ($3600 used) |
| Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX APO | 8.2 | 9/11 | 8.2' (2.5m) |
46mm | 4.7" x 8.8" (120mm x 212mm) |
5.3 lb (84.7 oz) (2400g) |
$2939 new |
| Canon EF 300mm f2.8L IS USM | 8 | 13/17 | 8.2' (2.5m) |
52mm drop in | Length 9.9" (253mm) |
6 lb (2690g) |
$5399 new |
| Nikon AF-S 300mm f2.8D ED-IF | 8.1 | 8/11 | 10' (3m) |
52mm drop in | 4.9" x 10" (124mm x 254mm) |
6.6 lb (106 oz) (2968g) |
$4699 new |
| Minolta AF 300mm f/2.8 APO G | 8.1 | 9/11 | 8.2' (2.5m) |
integral | 5" x 9.4" (130mm x 240mm) |
5.4 lb (87 oz) (2480g) |
$3999 new |
Pros and Cons
| Pentax FA* 300mm f/2.8 ED[IF] | Pros: Closer focusing
than the competition. Cons: Priced in the top tier. Matched teleconvertors 1.4XL and 2.0XL are manual focus only. There are no Pentax brand AF teleconvertors, although the Pentax 1.7x AF Adapter (discontinued) should work okay. |
| Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX APO | Pros: Lowest price of
this group by far. Matched Sigma 1.4X and 2X AF
teleconvertors are priced much lower that the competition
at $159 and $189 respectively. Cons: History of build and optical quality of Sigma lenses make this a less-certain investment than buying from N, C, M, or Pentax. Confirm the electronic compatibility with major manufacturers - try before you buy. |
| Canon EF 300mm f2.8L IS USM | Pros: Image
Stabilization (IS) technology allows shooting hand-held
at slower shutter speeds. But I don't know too many
people who hand-hold a 6 lb lens. Nevertheless, IS is a
feature that has many supporters. Matched convertors EF 1.4x
($380) and EF 2x ($310). Autofocus is achieved with both
TC's. Cons: This is the highest priced 300/2.8 of the group by far - probably due to the IS feature. It's also one of the heavier 300/2.8 lenses. And the large number of groups/elements leaves me questioning the design. Since it is a relatively new design, I recommend researching some objective lens tests and user reports before buying. |
| Nikon AF-S 300mm f2.8D ED-IF | Pros: Judging only
from the specs, I can't see any pros to this lens other
than the Nikon name. Cons: Longest close-focus distance of this group by far. Also this is the heaviest of these 300/2.8 lenses. It's also priced in the top tier. |
| Minolta AF 300mm f/2.8 APO G | Pros: Lowest price
from a major manufacturer. According to information at
the B&H Photo web site, Minolta's TCs, the AF 1.4x
Tele Convertor II APO ($375) and the AF 2x Tele Convertor
II APO ($410) do not fit this lens. But the Minolta site
says they do fit this lens, and both allow autofocus with
the 300/2.8. I would probably go with Minolta's
information. Cons: Judging only from the specs, I can't see any cons to this lens. |
| Comments: [email protected] | Texdance Home The Big Glass Start Page |
The Big Glass Comparison Home Page | The 600mm f4 Comparison Page for Pentax AF |
These pages designed using Genuine HTML, for the best in browser compatibility.
Last updated 12-Mar-2000. All images © John Mustarde. All opinions are my own. Information for this article was gathered from a variety of sources - please comment if you find a significant error. Pentax, Nikon, Minolta, Canon, and Sigma are copyrighted trademarks of the respective companies, and I am in no way affiliated with them nor have they authorized or verified any of this information.