PENTAX FA Star 600 F/4 vs D FA 150-450 F/4.5-5.6 + HD DA 1.4x Rear Teleconverter AW. Which is best?

[@uni-byte]

It's too bad your 600/4 is not working well for you. Mine still is for me, but at 67 years old, it's becoming difficult to cart the thing around. I have some difficult decisions to make in the near future. It will be hard for me to give this lens up. Thanks for your content Kobie!.

[@KobieMC]

I hear you on that one.

[@DeanHughes-um1um]

Interested if your wishing to sell your 600. Send me message thanks

[@uni-byte]

@@DeanHughes-um1um It does not look like you are set up to receive messages. The message icon does not show up in your "About" tab.

[@nancyclarke6624]

Thanks…nice to see the results with the 1.4x teleconverter. Still getting my sea legs with the 150-450, but might add on at some point. I picked up a monopod which is extremely helpful balancing the weight without the cumbersome burden of the tripod.

[@raykall]

you crazy for this one Kobie!

[@charlesdavidson4815]

Also - GREAT SHOTS!

[@KobieMC]

@@charlesdavidson4815 Thank you!

[@matthewp7428]

I can't imagine the amount of convincing yourself it takes to get that 600 f4 out there 😅. The 150-450 shots look great with the teleconverter. Some very small birds filling the frame there. The flexibility of a zoom must be such an advantage too.

[@KobieMC]

Ya, a zoom gives you more options for framing and environment for sure. For the 600, you really need to plan it right for the location. And have enough energy and will power to carry everything to that location, AND back from that location lol.

[@matthewp7428]

@@KobieMC 😂😂😂. That's what the 600 looks like to me. Energy and will power. Not a lot of fun 😂. I know some people want pentax to make a new 600 prime or something like that. I honestly just don't see that happening. It doesn't make a lot of sense for them. I think the 150-450 + the K3iii kind of hits their market for anyone seriously trying to shoot wildlife. If someone is going to spend more money than the cost of that setup, they're likely buying a Sony A1 or something instead. They should focus on rolling out the new limited lens line.

[@l.nauwelaerts195]

Great to see both lenses in action. That 600 is a pity, though. But the 150-450 seems to be giving great results. It is still on my wish list.

[@stellababy1998]

Hi Kobie! Nice video. What is your tripod and gimbal? I would like to get something very similar

[@KobieMC]

I use the Benro Bat 24c Carbon fiber tripod which came with the Benro VX-25 ball head. And I use the Benro GH5C Carbon fiber gimbal for the 150-450 and 600 F/4, obviously after removing the ball head.

[@suhailzubaid9192]

Watched this morning on my TV. I don't have either lenses you were testing and I don't want to invest anymore in lenses. I would like to do more photography with what I have - all pentax lenses - DA*300, 55 - 300 PLM, 18-135, 10-17, 100, 35, 21, and 15. I believe I need to invest in time and in traveling more.

[@KobieMC]

Time and travel is definitely the best idea of you can do it 👍🏽

[@LeeIveson]

Man every time I see that 600 f4 I'm just like geeeeeez la weeeeeez that's a monster! 😂 The depth of field is insane on that thing too! Real shame that it seems to be an off copy or at least needs some work to make it good again. Maybe sell it on & buy some other lenses with the proceeds?

[@KobieMC]

I might do that at a heavy discount price given the quality of the images. But it does come with everything including the front and rear filters. I'll have to think about it since this was one of the donated pieces from a subscriber who's since mysteriously vanished. I've tried getting a hold of him numerous times but it seems that all social accounts and any records of him are now gone. I fear the worst has happened but still, it's a tough moral decision.

[@doncoombez]

Oh mamma... salivating over the 600 f4... trying to decide if this or the 560 is the better choice for nature photography, but I am now fearful that I could spend a fortune on the 600 and get a dud. I guess the 560 is the better option, albeit a stop slower and less reach (I do also own the 150-450 and the 1.4tc so am wondering if the uprade is even worth it)

[@KobieMC]

Honestly, I would just use the 150-450 and if needed, the 1.4x to get the 600 mm focal range.

[@mobileandhostile7895]

@@KobieMC ⭐️ thankyou so much not just for this comment but for the time you spend on all these videos - they’re really helpful ⭐️ 👍

[@doncoombez]

@@KobieMC you are legend Kobie, thanks mate. I think you just saved me a ton of wonga!

[@doncoombez]

@@KobieMC one thing that really bugs me about the 150-450 is the lack of Arca Swiss style plate on the tripod mount, I am never able to do the attached plate up tight enough to stop it pivoting away from the foot of the collar. Have you found this an issue, and it so do you have a solution? (It is largely because I like to leave the camera on the tripod head)

[@KobieMC]

@@doncoombez I just use the plate that came with my Benro Gimbal. It's a long arca swiss style plate, about 3/4 the size of what I use for the 600 F/4. I haven't had any issues with the plate since there's 2 holes and my plate has the 2 screws and a lip at the end to keep it from shifting in the foot.

[@theharper1]

Sorry to hear that there's focus issues with the FA*600. Have you tried fine adjustment? Your results from the 150-450 and TC are much better than mine. I think I need to try fine AF adjustment with that combination.

[@KobieMC]

Yes I tried fine focus adjustment. The issue is, it's just soft all around and unfortunately there is no more support for this lens 😔

[@theharper1]

@@KobieMC oh, sorry to hear that. I'm curious whether the lens I considered buying in Japan was OK or not.

[@charlesdavidson4815]

Kobie, what tripod are you using with that big lens and gimbal? I'm looking into something taller and more robust than my aluminum Benro travel tripod.

[@KobieMC]

@@charlesdavidson4815 I use the Benro Bat 24c Carbon fiber tripod which came with the Benro VX-25 ball head. and I swap the ball head out for the Benro GH5C Carbon fiber gimbal. It's a bit on the short side so you may want to look at a taller tripod without a center column.

[@charlesdavidson4815]

@@KobieMC Many thanks for the intel Kobie! Much appreciated!

[@gamingwithstand6886]

Did you try DXO sharpening on the 600mm? My Panasonic 18-140mm version one is soft on the long end and DXO fixed it.

[@KobieMC]

Yup. DxO is what I use. I also don't believe in sharpening a photo to "fix" ultra soft images that clearly point to a lens issue. Too risky to bring in artifacts since I'd have to sharpen them way too much. DxO sharpening is fantastic though. Just doesn't work with how soft my 600 mm images are.

[@jimzielinski946]

Is it possible that the lens design of the 600mm lens really is optimized for subjects at a significantly greater distance than you were using? Also some of the older primes may need to be stopped down a little anyway. Just a thought. Personally, I've gone with relatively short and light mirror lenses for reasons of weight and significantly lower cost. I've noticed that even with the significantly slower fixed aperture of mirror lenses (f8, f10, and f11), I have an extremely hard time nailing focus on anything close, even though some of my mirror lenses are pretty sharp. I don't think I could afford that amazing zoom lens, but your photos prove it's worth whatever they want.

[@KobieMC]

I was shooting at F/8 and subjects at a further distance are even worse. The images look like the lens was smeared with oil 😔

[@jimzielinski946]

@@KobieMC hmmm. Ok. That's ashamed. I'm wondering if there is any way to get it repaired / serviced. Years ago, I risked cleaning and repairing a few vintage lenses I had and succeeded, though with lenses of a value low enough for me to risk trashing. I did have to invest a lot of time and effort though.

[@PentaxLife]

Man that's too bad about the 600. If you want to send it to me I'll use it. Some great shots though.

[@checksix_TC]

That looks like a 'bazooka' of a lens !

[@KobieMC]

It feels like one too. The issue is that EVERYONE will stop and ask questions about it when you're trying to just shoot lol.

[@ricephoto2993]

HD 50-300に1.4x AWを二つ付けた比較も見たいです。

[@KobieMC]

Why would you want to use 2 1.4x converters on a 6.3 aperture lens? You'd be at around F/12-F/13.

[@grahamhobbs3501]

I find my 400/4.5 disappointing on digital compared to film, but I've never really worked out what the issue is.

[@KobieMC]

I hear you. I'm not sure exactly what the issue is on mine, but I'm 99% sure, it's one element in the lens that's just slightly out of alignment.

[@GODSPEEDseven]

Too bad for the softness, would make for a nice moon lens.

[@KobieMC]

Ya, it really would, and astro as well.

[@douglasstemke2444]

Do you have the 1.4X-L?

[@KobieMC]

No, just the HD DA 1.4x AW

[@Amahoro60]

Wanna have :)