Has anyone tried/bought the new 300 EDIF? Care to write a field test or otherwise inform us as to the performance of this new lens? I believe there are a lot of potential buyers of this lens out here that are waiting for some feedback. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), October 16, 2000

Answers

Hmmm, I guess none of us can afford it, judging by the dearth of responses. I'd sure like to give it a test drive, but none of the rental shops in the Bay Area have it in stock yet.

-- Bill Baker (wab@well.com), October 23, 2000.

I think a lot of potential buyers believes that the price is to high and the ED glasses might not be necessary. I can't comment about the lens performance but let me give my opinion about the price. Actually I'm glad that Pentax come out with a high performance 300mm lens at a very fair price (not to say cheap). First lets make a comparison with other manufacturer of high quality 300mm lens (ED, APO, L, etc). Sorted by price (actually from B&H)

In 35 mm format:

Leica 280/4 APO 4600$ Canon 300/4 L (IS) 1300$ Minolta 300/4 APO 1000$ Nikon 300/4 ED-IF 900$ Olympus 300/4.5 780$ Pentax 300/4.5 ED-IF 780$ Sigma 300/4 APO macro 760$

In 6x4.5 format:

Contax 350/4 Apotessar 5800$ Pentax 300/4 ED-IF 3400$ Mamiya 300/4.5 APO (AF) 3200$ Bronica 250/5.6 Zenzanon-pe 1460$

In 6x6 format:

Hasselblad 350/4 FE Teletessar 8280$ (Ouf I don't have a hassy) Hasselblad 250/5.6 cfi sonnar 5280$ Rollei 300/4 APO tele-xenar 4400$ Hasselblad 250/4 FE Teletessar 3670$

In 6x7 format:

Mamiya 350/5.6 APO (RZ67) 4300$ Mamiya 250/4.5 APO (RZ67) 3640$ Pentax 300/4 ED-IF 2200$ Bronica 250/5.6 zenzanon-pg 1870$

In LF 4x5' (in copal)

Linhof 300/5.6 symmar 3800$ Rodenstock 300/5.6 APO Sironar-w 3500$ Schneider 300/5.6 APO Symmar 2200$ Nikon 300/5.6 1600$ etc...

I have two comments for this list: - Pentax has the fairest prices in all formats - The 300 ED for 67 is the cheapest 300 mm around in medium format and with a good aperture.

So I don't think the price is excessive and I believe (hope) the lens will hold its promises. It will be my next buy and I'm also looking for some feedback. I only could play a little with it at the Fotokina (a pity I didn't had a film to test it) and wanted to buy it soon. It is very well finished good in the hand, the tripod collar is perfectly placed. The lens give a "high quality" feeling (for what it says), its heavy, the focus ring is very smooth hard to give it back...

Colin

-- Colin Barschel (colin@barschel.com), October 23, 2000.

oops the new line didn't work for the price list sorry its a little more difficult to read....

-- Colin Barschel (colin@barschel.com), October 23, 2000.

As usuall B&H's prices for Medium Format gear are horrendous! Cayman Camera Sells this lens 300mm f/4 ED IF for $1600. Shipping to most places in the USA would be about $75, which is a lot, but you'd still be saving about $500 over B&H.

They (cayman) take C.cards and are very reputable. Only problem is that many big ticket items are not in stock, so delivery would probably be a few weeks.

I don't know why people are obsessed with comparing all prices with B&H's ones. Quite frankly their medium format prices suck and I've never ordered any m.format gear from them, probably never will.

Peace, Rolland

-- rolland (relliott@nasheng.com), November 14, 2000.