I find I have to calibrate my DFA* 70-200 when I'm dealing with subjects at different distances. After 5 meters my K1 isn't as reliable and the focus can be soft so I set the calibration a few ticks back or forward.
When I buy new camera I go through most used AF lenses because it only remembers 20.. which is sad. Memory is cheap, it should not be limited to 20. I would also like to see some autocalibration with camera doing the job alone using contrast detect stepping and some machine learning process. Sometimes there is the issue with focus dependency on aperture and focusing distance, so some lenses are perfect at lets say 3m and when I switch to infinity or closer range, it is doing some FF/BF. Which is sometimes problematic on my Sig50-500, but I barely shot it at 50mm at close range, so it is not a big issue. 55-300 is ok without calibration and 18-135WR also. Probably they learned how to do some final quality check :D With older lenses like DA*16-50, DA*50-135, DA12-24 or even FA and FA* things it is completely different story. And then Sigma lenses..
Lee, I'm going to be honest... Have you thought of maybe sending the lens for calibration? Take whatever I say with a grain of salt, right? There are WAYYYY more experienced photographers than me. But in my past 15 years of shooting digital, I've never had to calibrate a single lens. I've also never shot mirrorless, only SLR (just to make it 100% clear I know the difference here, lol). There is one camera body I have to get send in for calibration, and it's my old K-7. Pretty much every lens on it needs more calibration that what the camera offers. But I've had that camera for such a long time, and I've let others use it on multiple occasions as well. I've also shot a Nikon D7100, and it never needed calibration either. On my K-70, K-3 and K-1ii, I've never had to calibrate a single lens. I own and use about 10-12 lenses for the pentax system (not counting the older manual lenses that I also have).
@@lelanddyer9461 I do not have that lens but my k-70 or my K1 Mark II so far for me I've not had to calibrate any lenses they are pin sharp from edge to edge and I have two K-70 one all black which is my travel camera and the other k-70 is the silver and black edition and my K1 Mark II is all black
Enjoy your holiday man! Great video idea, it'll not only show the difference between the lenses, but also how much more fluid the K-3 III is compared to the K-3.
@@vincemokry9643I agree, I was just shocked on the day. I had a certain way of shooting the K3 to get the actions shots but it's been a while since I used it for this stuff and have been spoilt by the K3iii 😂
Pentax user for 51 years, yes an old guy here. Currently my 2 main cameras are 2 K70S. Got the first in 2019 and the second one in 2023. One black the other silver so I could tell them apart. Got my first PLM lens last year the 18-135mm and took it on a trip to Portugal. The 18-135mm was on the newer silver K70. On the black K70 I had a 75-300mm SMC Pentax-FA J lens. Well right off the bat the focus speed of the PLM lens and how quiet it is was amazing. Every night when I downloaded the photos I was amazed at the quality as well. My older lenses were good, but this was a step up. The 75-300mm was a clunker as far as operations went. Slow and noisy. So while in Portugal I started to do a little research to see if there were any other PLM lenses. Of course there was the 55-300mm PLM. I ordered it and had it waiting for me when I got back to Canada. It is now permanently mounted on my Black K70. Again fast focus and quiet. The results, again a step up from my older 75-300. I do a lot of plane photography and the 55-300 PLM is great for that. Also the price for both PLM lenses I found quite reasonable. My only complaint is that I wish the 55-300 was a bit faster as far as light capture goes. I do know that that would most likely raise the price considerably so I can live with the speed it is. If I need a long lens for low light work I have a 300mm/f4 Super Takumar that I can use and have. The quality is still there. I highly recommend both PLM lenses. Thank you for your videos and hope you are having a great vacation.
Sounds like you have come to the same conclusion as myself & many others in that the PLM lenses are fantastic! I really wish I had taken my K3 & 55-300 PLM on vacation but we only travelled hand luggage so space was tight! (The wife's clothes took up most the space haha)
I think it could well be the best all-rounder/value for money lens that Pentax make! Such a versatile lens that delivers above its price point in my opinion 👍
@@LeeIvesonway above price point. Owning a Fuji as well I'd say it's similar to their 70-300mm in many aspects (range+IQ+aperture values) which goes for 2-3 times the price of the plm in the used market!!
It is not fast focusing. Such speed is pretty normal in all other systems. I was quite surprised when I added some M4/3 Olympus equipment and even the cheapest kit lenses like 14-42/3.5-5.6 and 40-150/4-5.6 are incredibly fast focusing when compared to things I know on my Pentax. Except maybe Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM II which is also very fast on par with DA55-300PLM. But even some FA lenses can be like rockets. For example old F28-80/3.5-4.5 is brutal. It was designed for very slow bodies like SF-7 and on anything modern it rotates so fast, that one might think it will do some damage to the gears. Accuracy is different story though.
@@xmedait's ultra fast. It's just that other brands implemented that tech into more new lenses if theirs while Pentax only rarely produces new lenses anymore so they only got 2 of them! And other systems have sluggish AF lenses as well. Own a Fuji alongside Pentax and while their newer LM lenses (same focusing system to Pentax's PLM ) are fast there are tons of other that are slow A.F.
@@xmedaeasily converted into screwdrive AF lately on a newly aquired K5iiS! Frustrated I hadn't done it a few years back when it started showing signs of a sluggish SDM.
Part 2 is cool. Weather. It happens. I have not calibrated my lenses but am going to. I was convinced my Pentax 150-450 was bad. The concept of calibration confused me - for example, if "back focus" means the lens is focusing to the back of the subject then to correct to you move the + or - in the camera? Does + push focus further or closer? It wasn't clear. I tried setting up a table and measuring instruments but never got what I considered useful results. Some videos say for ease of correction use closer, not further subjects. I will explore this all again as it seems a hot topic.
1.) Decide what focusing distance you are using most with such lens. If you calibrate it at 2m and then you use it mostly near infinity, it might be off. 2.) Think about aperture you will use the most. Its nice to have F1.4 lens like FA50/1.4, but it is mess unless F2-F2.8 and it is better to use such aperture for focus check as it shifts with aperture too. 3.) Put camera and FLAT!! target on tripod or at least some table to keep it completely stable. Usually the distance is 40x-50x the focal lenght. So for 50mm lens you use +/-2m distance. 4.) Use central AF spot only 5.) Do at least 3-5 pics at setting 0 and check on monitor. With some lenses you wont be able to see the result properly on small LCD. 6.) If it is front focusing, so focus area is closer to you than it should be, you need to apply (-value). If it is focusing behind target you need (+value). 7.) Set some value and do test again to check if it is corrected or needs other number.
For me the 55-300 PLM wins hands down, that said the 70-210 has a distance scale which is invaluable in low light scenarios. Enjoy your hoilday and I look forward to your competition with Hannah. As for upcoming I would love to see your take on Micro Four Thirds but I don’t suppose that’s possible without you buying new gear.
We all know the 55-300 is weak at 300. Since you are comparing to a lens that only goes to 210, then that is a moot point as it relates to your results for contrasting them.
@vincemokry9643 I did state at the start of the video that I understand the DFA 70-210 is made for full frame & the DA 55-300 PLM is for the APSC. I also said this was for fun & not a scientific pixel peeping type video, so under those circumstances I think some people would be interested to see the comparison. But I understand others will want like for like comparisons 👍
So, I have the PLM 55-300mm lens and it's worth the money, in spite of it not being a DA* lens. In terms of price, here in the states the PLM was around $500 and the 70-210mm is around $800. However, I opted to purchase the older FA* 80-200mm f2.8 being it was way cheaper and was rated very good, lucky for me I got one in very good condition and is optically fantastic and came with a feature which I think is very neat as it can zoom through the lens, all be it a few draw backs. With all that said however, I've thought about getting the 70-210mm mostly for its weather sealing and price but can't justify it unfortunately. If I was doing more events where it required it, then maybe.
That was pretty much the main reason for picking up the 70-210, weather sealing, I've found that to be the most valuable feature for the work I do at the off road events. I can't believe the price difference, $800 is like £600 😳 literally half of what the lens costs over here!
@@LeeIveson Indeed, weather sealing is definitely one of those features that makes it or breaks it for me. However, I've rarely done outdoor events but I still like that feature as it makes things easier to move from indoor to outdoors and not worrying about what the weather is like. Airshows are a very good example as the weather can be unpredictable sometimes.
I am always lusting over the DFA* version but if I manage to become a poor professional, I'll probably get the tamron...I have done some of my first "people action" (just dancing and some choreography) shooting on the 6th and unlike me, the 150-450 performed quite well at that but I was sometimes tempted to juggle it and the 77 (which I did at one point) for a wider take
The DFA* 70-200 f2.8 will definitely be the better lens optically, and the better low light option. Size, weight & not really needing f2.8 are what lead me to going with the 70-210. I imagine you get a lovely variety of images between the 150-450 & your 77, the 70-200 would fit nicely 👌
I have the PLM 55 to 300 good lens I have that paired with a Pentax k-70 and I just ordered the other lens red band a DA 55 to 300 to go along with it's sibling lens red band 16 to 85 also for my one camera which is the silver and black k-70 And a side note of another order for my Pentax k-70 Black edition and that lens is the 18-270 their newer ones for that one that lens will live on that camera as not coming off That's my traveling camera and scouting camera Because I travel on a mountain bike this blind butt does not drive so it's either walking which everything around me is like 15 to 20 mi away so I prefer to use a mountain bike
I'd love to hear your thoughts on how the red band DA 55-300 compares to your 55-300 PLM. I've heard there's not much optical difference, but I imagine there is a big difference with the focusing motors 👌
@@LeeIveson I will let you know whenever It decide to come in I just ordered it like I said about 2 days ago both lenses so I'm still waiting myself Take care and keep on shooting stay safe out there my good man
I'm curious to know how often you calibrate your lenses?
I'd like to see this too.
I find I have to calibrate my DFA* 70-200 when I'm dealing with subjects at different distances. After 5 meters my K1 isn't as reliable and the focus can be soft so I set the calibration a few ticks back or forward.
When I buy new camera I go through most used AF lenses because it only remembers 20.. which is sad. Memory is cheap, it should not be limited to 20. I would also like to see some autocalibration with camera doing the job alone using contrast detect stepping and some machine learning process.
Sometimes there is the issue with focus dependency on aperture and focusing distance, so some lenses are perfect at lets say 3m and when I switch to infinity or closer range, it is doing some FF/BF. Which is sometimes problematic on my Sig50-500, but I barely shot it at 50mm at close range, so it is not a big issue.
55-300 is ok without calibration and 18-135WR also. Probably they learned how to do some final quality check :D With older lenses like DA*16-50, DA*50-135, DA12-24 or even FA and FA* things it is completely different story. And then Sigma lenses..
Lee, I'm going to be honest... Have you thought of maybe sending the lens for calibration?
Take whatever I say with a grain of salt, right? There are WAYYYY more experienced photographers than me. But in my past 15 years of shooting digital, I've never had to calibrate a single lens. I've also never shot mirrorless, only SLR (just to make it 100% clear I know the difference here, lol).
There is one camera body I have to get send in for calibration, and it's my old K-7. Pretty much every lens on it needs more calibration that what the camera offers. But I've had that camera for such a long time, and I've let others use it on multiple occasions as well. I've also shot a Nikon D7100, and it never needed calibration either.
On my K-70, K-3 and K-1ii, I've never had to calibrate a single lens. I own and use about 10-12 lenses for the pentax system (not counting the older manual lenses that I also have).
@@lelanddyer9461
I do not have that lens but my k-70 or my K1 Mark II so far for me I've not had to calibrate any lenses they are pin sharp from edge to edge and I have two K-70 one all black which is my travel camera and the other k-70 is the silver and black edition and my K1 Mark II is all black
Enjoy your holiday man! Great video idea, it'll not only show the difference between the lenses, but also how much more fluid the K-3 III is compared to the K-3.
Cheers Kobie 🍻 yeah I can't believe how much better the K3iii is now that I've picked up my old K3 again, really surprised me!
@@LeeIveson My old K3 is not too shabby...but that mk III is THE BOMB!!!
@@vincemokry9643I agree, I was just shocked on the day. I had a certain way of shooting the K3 to get the actions shots but it's been a while since I used it for this stuff and have been spoilt by the K3iii 😂
Pentax user for 51 years, yes an old guy here. Currently my 2 main cameras are 2 K70S. Got the first in 2019 and the second one in 2023. One black the other silver so I could tell them apart. Got my first PLM lens last year the 18-135mm and took it on a trip to Portugal. The 18-135mm was on the newer silver K70. On the black K70 I had a 75-300mm SMC Pentax-FA J lens. Well right off the bat the focus speed of the PLM lens and how quiet it is was amazing. Every night when I downloaded the photos I was amazed at the quality as well. My older lenses were good, but this was a step up. The 75-300mm was a clunker as far as operations went. Slow and noisy. So while in Portugal I started to do a little research to see if there were any other PLM lenses. Of course there was the 55-300mm PLM. I ordered it and had it waiting for me when I got back to Canada. It is now permanently mounted on my Black K70. Again fast focus and quiet. The results, again a step up from my older 75-300. I do a lot of plane photography and the 55-300 PLM is great for that. Also the price for both PLM lenses I found quite reasonable. My only complaint is that I wish the 55-300 was a bit faster as far as light capture goes. I do know that that would most likely raise the price considerably so I can live with the speed it is. If I need a long lens for low light work I have a 300mm/f4 Super Takumar that I can use and have. The quality is still there. I highly recommend both PLM lenses. Thank you for your videos and hope you are having a great vacation.
Sounds like you have come to the same conclusion as myself & many others in that the PLM lenses are fantastic! I really wish I had taken my K3 & 55-300 PLM on vacation but we only travelled hand luggage so space was tight! (The wife's clothes took up most the space haha)
I'm seriously considering buying a DA 55-300 PLM for its small size and fast focusing.
I think it could well be the best all-rounder/value for money lens that Pentax make! Such a versatile lens that delivers above its price point in my opinion 👍
@@LeeIvesonway above price point.
Owning a Fuji as well I'd say it's similar to their 70-300mm in many aspects (range+IQ+aperture values) which goes for 2-3 times the price of the plm in the used market!!
It is not fast focusing. Such speed is pretty normal in all other systems. I was quite surprised when I added some M4/3 Olympus equipment and even the cheapest kit lenses like 14-42/3.5-5.6 and 40-150/4-5.6 are incredibly fast focusing when compared to things I know on my Pentax. Except maybe Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM II which is also very fast on par with DA55-300PLM. But even some FA lenses can be like rockets. For example old F28-80/3.5-4.5 is brutal. It was designed for very slow bodies like SF-7 and on anything modern it rotates so fast, that one might think it will do some damage to the gears. Accuracy is different story though.
@@xmedait's ultra fast. It's just that other brands implemented that tech into more new lenses if theirs while Pentax only rarely produces new lenses anymore so they only got 2 of them!
And other systems have sluggish AF lenses as well. Own a Fuji alongside Pentax and while their newer LM lenses (same focusing system to Pentax's PLM ) are fast there are tons of other that are slow A.F.
@@xmeda I shoot on two platforms, Pentax and OM System (Olympus), I love using both.
I really wish Pentax would bring back the 50-135mm f2.8
Rather 35-135/2.8 or 50-150/2.8. But that won't happen. The old one is optically very good, just that Sudden Death Motor is disaster.
@@xmedaeasily converted into screwdrive AF lately on a newly aquired K5iiS! Frustrated I hadn't done it a few years back when it started showing signs of a sluggish SDM.
Interesting video - thanks! I'm wavering between those two lenses - contemplating which one to buy, probably early next year. Have a great holiday!
Cheers mate 🍻
Recently got my K3 loving it so far
Nice! Which lenses are you using with your K3?
Part 2 is cool. Weather. It happens. I have not calibrated my lenses but am going to. I was convinced my Pentax 150-450 was bad. The concept of calibration confused me - for example, if "back focus" means the lens is focusing to the back of the subject then to correct to you move the + or - in the camera? Does + push focus further or closer? It wasn't clear. I tried setting up a table and measuring instruments but never got what I considered useful results. Some videos say for ease of correction use closer, not further subjects. I will explore this all again as it seems a hot topic.
1.) Decide what focusing distance you are using most with such lens. If you calibrate it at 2m and then you use it mostly near infinity, it might be off.
2.) Think about aperture you will use the most. Its nice to have F1.4 lens like FA50/1.4, but it is mess unless F2-F2.8 and it is better to use such aperture for focus check as it shifts with aperture too.
3.) Put camera and FLAT!! target on tripod or at least some table to keep it completely stable. Usually the distance is 40x-50x the focal lenght. So for 50mm lens you use +/-2m distance.
4.) Use central AF spot only
5.) Do at least 3-5 pics at setting 0 and check on monitor. With some lenses you wont be able to see the result properly on small LCD.
6.) If it is front focusing, so focus area is closer to you than it should be, you need to apply (-value). If it is focusing behind target you need (+value).
7.) Set some value and do test again to check if it is corrected or needs other number.
I think the images on the 70-210 looked a bit more punchy. The contrast was better?
Have a great holiday Lee.
@welshskies Cheers mate, will do 🍻
You did it!
For me the 55-300 PLM wins hands down, that said the 70-210 has a distance scale which is invaluable in low light scenarios. Enjoy your hoilday and I look forward to your competition with Hannah. As for upcoming I would love to see your take on Micro Four Thirds but I don’t suppose that’s possible without you buying new gear.
Thanks mate 👍 Micro four thirds could be very interesting!
We all know the 55-300 is weak at 300. Since you are comparing to a lens that only goes to 210, then that is a moot point as it relates to your results for contrasting them.
@vincemokry9643 I did state at the start of the video that I understand the DFA 70-210 is made for full frame & the DA 55-300 PLM is for the APSC. I also said this was for fun & not a scientific pixel peeping type video, so under those circumstances I think some people would be interested to see the comparison. But I understand others will want like for like comparisons 👍
So, I have the PLM 55-300mm lens and it's worth the money, in spite of it not being a DA* lens. In terms of price, here in the states the PLM was around $500 and the 70-210mm is around $800. However, I opted to purchase the older FA* 80-200mm f2.8 being it was way cheaper and was rated very good, lucky for me I got one in very good condition and is optically fantastic and came with a feature which I think is very neat as it can zoom through the lens, all be it a few draw backs. With all that said however, I've thought about getting the 70-210mm mostly for its weather sealing and price but can't justify it unfortunately. If I was doing more events where it required it, then maybe.
That was pretty much the main reason for picking up the 70-210, weather sealing, I've found that to be the most valuable feature for the work I do at the off road events. I can't believe the price difference, $800 is like £600 😳 literally half of what the lens costs over here!
@@LeeIveson Indeed, weather sealing is definitely one of those features that makes it or breaks it for me. However, I've rarely done outdoor events but I still like that feature as it makes things easier to move from indoor to outdoors and not worrying about what the weather is like. Airshows are a very good example as the weather can be unpredictable sometimes.
@CausalJeffrey I think it's one of those things, once you have been in a situation that calls for weather sealing you can't go without it afterwards 😉
Packing light? Take your Pentax 17! :D And interesting video as always.
Thanks! I didn't want to chance it with the airport, it would most likely have been fine but I just played it safe 😅
I am always lusting over the DFA* version but if I manage to become a poor professional, I'll probably get the tamron...I have done some of my first "people action" (just dancing and some choreography) shooting on the 6th and unlike me, the 150-450 performed quite well at that but I was sometimes tempted to juggle it and the 77 (which I did at one point) for a wider take
The DFA* 70-200 f2.8 will definitely be the better lens optically, and the better low light option. Size, weight & not really needing f2.8 are what lead me to going with the 70-210.
I imagine you get a lovely variety of images between the 150-450 & your 77, the 70-200 would fit nicely 👌
I have the PLM 55 to 300 good lens I have that paired with a Pentax k-70 and I just ordered the other lens red band a DA 55 to 300 to go along with it's sibling lens red band 16 to 85 also for my one camera which is the silver and black k-70
And a side note of another order for my Pentax k-70 Black edition and that lens is the 18-270 their newer ones for that one that lens will live on that camera as not coming off That's my traveling camera and scouting camera
Because I travel on a mountain bike this blind butt does not drive so it's either walking which everything around me is like 15 to 20 mi away so I prefer to use a mountain bike
I'd love to hear your thoughts on how the red band DA 55-300 compares to your 55-300 PLM. I've heard there's not much optical difference, but I imagine there is a big difference with the focusing motors 👌
@@LeeIveson
I will let you know whenever It decide to come in I just ordered it like I said about 2 days ago both lenses so I'm still waiting myself
Take care and keep on shooting stay safe out there my good man