Welcome to the list, Waldemar! I am also an avid bird watcher. Currently, my longest lens is a 300/4 Sigma AF APO Macro which I am very fond of. I was debating between this lens and the SMC M 300/4 but decided on the Sigma for it's tripod collar (lots of discussions have been on the topic of tripod collars.... I won't get into that right now) and close-focus abilities. The costs of the two lenses at the time I was searching (used) was almost identical.
to answer your main question: Yes, the extra stop in my opinion would be worth the price difference. Sure you can use film that is one stop faster (I use Velvia and Provia 100F slide film) but I would be unhappy with the films available (provia 400F is fine for sports but I don't like it for nature shots and I don't really like Sensia at all). If I was on a budget and looking for a 300mm I'd find an SMC-M 300/4 or a Sigma like mine (depending on your brand loyalties, etc) and definitely stay with a K-mount lens. HTH Christian On Wednesday 15 January 2003 13:49, W. Krasowski wrote: > Hello to everyone, > > I am new to pdml, but found it very usefull - many thanks to all of you > for doing such great job! > > I am passionate birdwatcher, I love Pentax system and use my MZ5N body. > Now I look for proper lens for my bird-photography. I don't need longer > than 300mm lens, so I consider buying old Takumar 300/4.0 SMC, screw mount > lens. Would anybody tell me please if it is as good and sharp as I've > heard? I couldn't find any resolution table for this lens, does anybody > know it? And - is it better than K-mount 300mm/4.0 lens or not? > > Another one I would love to have is F* 300mm/4,5 but it will costs me two > times more money (at least). Anyway, I would buy this F* if it is really > much, much better than those Takumar. > > Another thing that makes me very surprised is that lenses as fast as 2,8 > are thousands of dollars more expensive than 4,5 - is this one f-stop > really worth so much money? Especially when I can get this one "f-stop" > buying faster film. > > I will appreciate any help. > > Kind greeting to all of you, > ======================= > Waldemar Krasowski > mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > =======================
