Genius Features of the PENTAX D FA 150-450 That Will Blow Your Mind

[@richardbraham2486]

This is my favourite birding/wildlife lens matched with a k3. Great build and photo quality is outstanding. Just love using it.

[@tedtbc4261]

I have had the 150-450 for about18 months. I have used the focus preset in the spring when shooting young eagles in the nest. It allows you lock in the nest, and wander and focus for incoming parents but then snap back to the nest preset. I found that I could carry around with a sling shoulder strap, however I did buy a gimble head not long after getting the lens...

[@b.2221]

Personally I think that you behind the viewfinder is all that matters on this phenomenal camera lens combo 👍 Tam.

[@KobieMC]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@photoroll]

Thanks for this! Just got mine this week and was trying to figure out the buttons. This was very helpful! Thanks for the link to the manual also!

[@KobieMC]

No problem and congrats on an amazing lens!

[@nancydenham1480]

I have been looking for someone doing videos using Pentax, finally found you. Great information. I use K3II but a lot is similar at least enough to learn more.

[@PentaxLife]

Nice can't wait to see some shots

[@LeeIveson]

That thing is an ANIMAL! Looking forward to see what shots you can get with it. It would be nice to see some comparisons using it with the both the K-3 & K-3 iii

[@danigonzalez4299]

Nice video. Thanks. I had the chance to test this lens twice. Both in my K3 and 3-II and just some minutes at first and some two days on the other testing. Clearly the lens does the job in any bright day. Focuses well. It is a very nice lens. To be honest i wasn't even bothering on understanding all the buttons because well.... I did not had the time. Also some buttons are a bit in a weird position when shooting for my taste, so i tended to forget those. It is a heavy carry but overall a nice one. Would not mind testing it again with a K3-III. Whereas I do feel the constant aperture of a lens like the Sigma 100-300mm might be a better or faster lens, this isn't neither a toy

[@danigonzalez4299]

Alright! So in the latest test I was able to use the same lens (i mean the same exact unit) in Valencia December 2022 I can tell you that mostly the first time the lens was focusing a bit slow was due to me not knowing the focus limiter and how to use it. In good light it's an impressive beast and well now I own one that is 2nd hand but hey, I could pay it xD

[@nancydenham1480]

thanks for helping understand this lens better, the link for the manual doesn't work for me.

[@KobieMC]

They may have moved the link. I'll try and find another one that works. Thanks for the heads up 🙂

[@KobieMC]

I've replaced the link.

[@franciscosalas_live]

Nice vidoe, many thanks!

[@KobieMC]

You're quite welcome! Thank you for watching 👍🏽

[@charlesd2109]

Thanks Kobie! I just got mine last week and went out for the first time with it yesterday. Definitely looking forward to using it a lot more! I appreciate your explanations. I wonder if the preset mode might be useful for birds in flight, to help find the target and get it in focus more quickly? Especially in a lake or wetland setting where shooting closer birds on the water, then moving quickly to shoot birds in flight, I can see the preset button potentially being really useful.

[@KobieMC]

I'm thinking that's exactly what the mode was designed for. Can't wait to try it out and see if it's effective!

[@standhd]

Yeaaaa boiiiiiii! Lol…….Kobie-Kobe!

[@standalowen]

I thought this: Pentax HD PENTAX D FA 150-450mm, was the new updated version. Loaded with new stuff? I've been a little confused with new updated lenses. I know I waited for and got new 16-50mm PLM.

[@KobieMC]

The D FA 150-450 was released just before the K-1 came to market. It was an all new design from the ground up. There's only one, and it is good 🙂

[@vinx7272]

THE KP IS MY CAMERA WITH THE FASTEST AUTOFOCUS: I use it with the DA*200mm 2.8. I would like a longer and especially faster focal length for focusing birds in flight. Will this 150-450 really give me a speed gain in acquiring and maintaining focus?

[@KobieMC]

@@vinx7272 I can't answer that since I've never had the opportunity to use the 200 2.8. However, in theory, the 150-450 would focus faster due to having various focus limiters. And there's also the reach advantage of 450 mm. For a DC motor lens, it's surprisingly quick.

[@vinx7272]

@@KobieMC Thanks Kobbie for the quick response. There is reason to hesitate because for the price of the 150-450 second-hand, it is also possible to find a Canon 7D Mark II with a 400mm f 5.6 here in France.

[@KobieMC]

@@vinx7272 I know, it's a sad reality.

[@mchume65]

Got mine yesterday, it came with pamphlet.

[@KobieMC]

Lucky you! Enjoy the lens!

[@8bittim]

Have to ask, is it easy to shoot handheld or do you use a tripod? I know the Pentax has Ibis but being a DSLR and in the camera rather than the lens, the viewfinder is shaky at far distances.

[@KobieMC]

I don't find it to be too bad hand holding it as long as you're putting you arm down and not staying ready all the time holding it up ready to shoot. It will start getting tiring though after a while carrying it with you if you're hiking (unless it's in a bag). It can get a bit Shakey through the OVF but I just try to focus on smooth movements. I have experienced the shakiness here and there (everyone has off days) but the images still came out fine.

[@matthewp7428]

Do you have subject detect continuous set for the video on the k3iii? When you held the lens up in front of you it seemed to do a pretty decent job at shifting focus from your face, to the lens, and then back to your face again when you put it down. Fairly smooth focus shift if you ask me.

[@KobieMC]

Yes continuous AF was active during the recording. 🙂 It's good enough for my needs at this point.

[@ryanw1906]

It would be nice if Catch-In Focus worked with BBAF. I don't get why decoupling the focus from the shutter release breaks that.

[@KobieMC]

I have no idea why either.

[@ryanw1906]

@@KobieMC I mean, shouldn't Catch-In focus basically just trigger with focus confirmation? *shrug*

[@KobieMC]

Technically the idea behind catch in focus is to preset the focus manually and keep the shutter pressed. When the subject crosses that focused spot, the camera will fire automatically. It works great for Macro work.

[@ryanw1906]

@@KobieMC Right, the focus is manually dialed in and the shutter fired when the focus is computationally confirmed. So it shouldn't matter that the AF is decoupled from the shutter release since focus isn't being controlled electronically.

[@KobieMC]

@@ryanw1906 I know it shouldn't but it seems the confirmation calculation is coupled with the actual shutter button and not when you use back button for whatever reason.

[@eviltango]

Looks compact for something with that focal length. Do you recommend using it with a K1 (mk1 & mk2)?

[@KobieMC]

Absolutely! The lens was developed with the release of the K-1 series in mind. 🙂 It does start to get heavy though lol. If I recall, it's 4 or 4.5 lbs.

[@petkosmos]

I dun quite understand, what is the catch and focus with MF ?

[@KobieMC]

Catch in focus is a setting in the camera where you can have the shutter button fully pressed and the camera will only take the picture when a subject crosses the in focus area. It's known as a focus trap. You set the lens to manual focus, the camera stays in Autofocus (single), set the camera to enable both catch in focus AND focus priority for AF. S. You can now manually focus to a specific point and the camera will not release the shutter until a subject triggers the actual in focus target. For example, Macro shooting. You can focus just short of a flower petal and fully press the shutter, the camera will not take a picture. A bee comes in to pollinate and just as it's about to land on the flower the camera take the shot since the bee itself was the in focus target and not the flower itself.

[@petkosmos]

@@KobieMC oh yes, I remember Thank you so much for the explanation I tried to take a shot on an owl in night with 150-450, but it was a total failure Sounds like this catch in focus would do

[@dalex60]

RuPaul called, she wants her finger snaps back…

[@KobieMC]

Oh snap! You went there lol.

[@pbyfr]

QFS = Quick-shift Focus System

[@KobieMC]

Then it should be QSF is all I'm saying.

[@PUTDEVICE]

It's a heavy bastard. ;) myself, I have a Blackrapid harness attached to the lens foot. if you have the harness attached to the camera, there is a risk that the lens mount will not withstand the stress. then we'll see if you find features on the sharpness. has calibrated my 150-450 but gets a little blur at a little longer distance. can be the uv filter. may buy a slightly more expensive filter.

[@KobieMC]

I've been looking at various tripod foot straps and the others that go from the camera to the tripod foot. It does start getting heavy after a while.