List Price: $399.95
Sale Price: $234.95
Today's Bonus: 41% Off
I've owned this lens for about a month now, and I can honestly say that this is a great option for anyone on a budget who wants a super telephoto lens, capable of zooming past 400mm or 500mm. Normally, I suggest finding a way to get closer to your subject if it cannot be reached with a 300mm lens. In my opinion, closer is always better. However, there are times when a 300mm lens is not enough and getting closer is not an option. And in those cases, the Opteka 650-1300mm f/8-16 is an excellent alternative that is capable of producing some very nice photos. Not magazine covers, but definitely photos that you'd be proud to show to your family and friends.
This was my first experience with a manual super telephoto lens and let me tell you, it requires some practice to master. But, if you try to have fun with it and practice, you'll have it mastered in no time. Trust me, if I can do it...you can! I've used this lens on my D7000 and D90, and it works well.
If you'd like to get a feel for what it's like to use this lens, here's something to try if you have a 300mm lens at home. Setup your camera as follows:
-Attach the 300mm lens to your camera and set it to 300mm
-Set your camera to Manual Mode (M).
-Set your aperture (F-stop) to f/8
-Turn off all image stabilization (IS).
-Turn off Auto-focus so that you have to focus manually. Focusing manually is one crucial part that really takes practice.
Now, pick a subject (about the size of large bird) about 30 yards away, focus on the subject (manually, of course), and take a few photos using only ISO, shutter speed, and white balance settings to get the results you want. As you try this on a few different subjects, with different lighting each time, you'll start get a good idea of what it's like to use this lens .......... and really start to appreciate all the work your camera does automatically! Personally, I think most people have unrealistic expectations for this lens. If you want pull in a hawk from ¼ mile away, forget about it.......Buy a telescope!
On the down side, there is some purple fringing in certain situations, and yes, the lens is a bit heavy. But, that should be expected.....it is a large telephoto lens. Also, handling this lens takes some getting used to. Just carrying the lens while it's attached to your camera can be a challenge at first because the lens will extend or "creep" if the zoom lock is not fastened properly. I've found it best to hold the lens horizontally, never vertically. Beyond that however, there's not much to complain about. This is a simple lens with no on-board electronics. It's easy to use and offers a lot of flexibility. Once you have the lens on a tripod the hardest part is focusing accurately and getting the exposure right.
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