Recommended 300mm

[alexgb]

Hi !
I have a Nikon Z6 and soon a Z50. I already have some goods AF lenses like Nikon Z50mm f/1.8, Viltrox 35mm & 85mm f/1.8. I 've ordered MF Pergear 12mm F/2 and a fisheye 7.5mm f/2.8.
I don't have long focal lenses, i don't use really need it. But i'm curious and i want to try some manuals. So, why not buying and try some shots like : The moon, Some birds, cats with tele-lenses.......

I thought a 300mm lens will be perfect, added with a 2x converter for moon photography.
I want a lens as sharp as possible, and a minimum distance focus (for cat's eyes). Tiny Budget too. I'm in France, so there are some brands difficult to find.

My short list :
- Tamron 300mm f/5.6 (i find one for 55€)
- Tamron 60-300mm f/3,8-5.4 (find one for 45€)
- Canon 300mm f/5.6 FD (find one for 60€)

In your opinion, which one will be sharpest ?
Thanks for your help

[Ultrapix]

[visualopsins]

Tamron 60-300mm f/3,8-5.4 is plenty sharp, not heavy, but big.

How about a Tamron SP 500/8 mirror lens? -- sharp and plenty of reach for the moon, close focusing, lightweight.

[D1N0]

Beware there a 2 300mm F5.6 Adaptall lenses the 54B SP adaptall 2 and the CT-300 adaptall (1) You want the 54B.

[eggplant]

I've heard the Canon's CA control is good, better than other 300mm lenses of the class (incl. the ones you describe).

[alexgb]

Thnaks for yours answers.

@Ultrapix OK, So you rather recommand Canon
@visualopsins Ok for 60-300mm. Mirror lens : Is this really sharp ? As sharp as contenders ?
@D1N0 OMG !! You're right. The one i found is not 54B !!! :

@eggplant Ok, so one additional vote for Canon

So short short list is :
- Canon FD 300mm f/5.6
- Tamron 60-300mm

[visualopsins]

[Ultrapix]

[sergun]

Canon nfd 300/4 L or non L. The second one, by the way, is also very good for your money.

[caspert79]

Mamiya C 300mm f/5.6 for 645.
Sharp, well corrected, fairly lightweight and affordable.

[marcusBMG]

There are three (3) adaptall 300mm f5.6's. Two have been mentioned, the 3rd is the earliest one, ?T300, adapted directly from the adaptamatic predecessor. It is larger and weightier than the later CT300 and 54B, but has the advantage of a built in tripod mount.

Reviews:
T300:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tamron-adaptall-bbar-multi-c-auto-tamron-156-f300mm.html

CT300:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tamron-adaptall-300mm-f-5-6-ct-300.html

54B
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tamron-adaptall-2-300mm-f-5-6-54b.html

23A:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tamron-adaptall-2-sp-60-300mm-f-3-8-5-4-23a.html

I have had good images from all 3, but would prefer the T300 and 54B. They all show some fringing, and are better stopped down to f8 or f11. I have had similar results from 54B and from 23A 60-300mm, however I should mention that in truth 23A is really 60-29xmm approx. The versatility and consistent quality of 23A always recommends it (macro to 1:1.5! ).
One more useful point: 23A, CT300, 54B can be fitted with one of the cheap made in china 65/66mm tripod mount rings normally described as for canon 70-200mm f4, with a bit of packing or modification see here.
In a similar ballpark iq wise, or maybe even a bit better, is the well regarded tokina 100-300mm f4, but less common and tends to be price to match.
My sense of the canon FD 300mm f5.6 is that it is a good 300mm, perhaps even one of the best, I recall a thread remarking that it was really well corrected. But from what @stevemark has posted, it is the nikon ED non IF 300mm f4.5 that is the exceptional vintage performer. I am also impressed with the pics from a mamiya-sekor 300mm here.
This forum isn't so easy to search but there are a number of informative threads like this one:

http://forum.mflenses.com/300mm-lens-comparison-leitz-minolta-pentax-t76838,highlight,%2B300mm.html

[caspert79]

Here are some sample images I took with the Mamiya:
http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=83780

[eggplant]

[visualopsins]

Bought one of these the other day: https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-K-300mm-F4-Lens.html

Soon I'll be comparing it with Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 300/4 https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/S-M-C-Super-Takumar-300mm-F4.html , Tele-Takumar 300/6.3 https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Tele-Takumar-300mm-F6.3.html , and Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 6x7 300mm f/4 https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-Takumar-6x7-300mm-F4-Lens.html . A quick casual trial indicates it and the 6x7 lens seem best, next Tele-Tak, then S-M-C.

It has 7 elements in 5 groups; the other lenses have 5/5.

[D1N0]

[alexgb]

@marcusBMG Many thanks for your help.
OK for Tamron.
I have found a Tokina 100-300mm f4 at 90€...
Ok for Nikon ED non IF 300mm f4.5 but it is so diffuclt to find !!!
I have found a Mamiya 300mm CS300 F/4.5 at good price but seller does'nt want to ship, and he's at 2 hours by car

@caspert79 Mamiya 300mm f5.6 is a little over budget

@sergun way over budget for me

@Ultrapix Thanks for your feedback.

@visualopsins I don't really like mirror lenses - I will watch with interest your comparison.


So i have find another lens that can match my search :
Nikkor 50-300mmm f/4.5 ! Wow that's a beast !!! I read some very good reviews, some says that it is sharper than primes....
I have found one on good state, with some little dust in, but over all in good shape for 70€
I have found too, a Nikkor H 300mm f4.5 pre Ai for 50€

I don't mind about weight, but i want the sharpest lens with minimum map not too long. So which one to buy :
- Nikkor 50-300mmm f/4.5 (70€)
- Nikkor H 300mm f4.5 pre Ai (50€)
- Tokina 100-300mm f4 (90E)
- Canon 300mm FD f5.6 (60€)
- Tamron 60-300mm f3,8-5.4 (45€)

[Doc Sharptail]

The 300 nikkor "H" can be a good lens, provided it's a clean sample.
I like the simple compact tripod two way plate on it. The tripod head can always take care of the final movements, which is okay with me.
Watch for fungus with these.
Sweet spot on mine is (of course) f5.6-f8.
It seems to focus well on the D-810.
It shines from about 60 to 200 feet in distance.
It is an easier lens for me to focus than the 300mm f 4.5 A/I.
I need to work with mine more on a tripod.
Edit:
It's physical dimensions and weight make it a special purpose lens.
This one is an excellent candidate for a tube case, which makes things a lot easier.

-D.S.

[caspert79]

[KEO]

Personally, I love my old MOG 300 Telemegor 4.5, but it's so heavy it's impractical to lug around.

The ED-IF 300 Nikkor 4.5 is a nice one though, and not too heavy especially if you remove the tripod collar. Just don't lose it.

[D1N0]

The Tair 300mm phs 1:4.5 is optically very good but a total bitch to operate because it is so big and heavy. You really need a monopod for it.

[kiddo]

[stevemark]