REAR CONVERTERS: You can use either the late grey 1.4x or the 2x 67 rear converters with the 67 M*300/4. One weird thing is that the minimum aperture of f/45 was dropped for the M*300/4 and it only goes to f/32? Also, no need for a “bright” focusing screen either. It’s fast enough that if you are using a split-image or microprism focusing screen in your 6x7 camera, the centre of these focusing areas will not be darkened. SPEED F/4 is typical for a 6x7 format 300mm lens, so no issues for me. Pentax killed off the 150mm focal length for the 35mm format in 1986, so I’m not sure why Pentax kept it around for so long in the 6x7 format. (I own 6x7 lenses from 35mm to 800mm) I also have the similar “field of view” Pentax K150/4 in the 35mm format and have the same issues with its focal length. For me 300mm is stuck in telephoto “no man’s land” and it's my least favourite focal length for the Pentax 6x7 system. 300mm is too long to be a portrait lens and too short for a decent telephoto lens. This is a focal length that Pentax seemed to create just because it was a nice round number and not one that was very useful. (f/22 to f/5.6) Subject isolation is also very good at f/5.6.įOCAL LENGTH: The big issue I have with the M*300/4 is the 300mm focal length. The optics are excellent at all the apertures I have tested it at. OPTICS: The 67 M*300/4 optical design features 9 elements in 9 groups and also has extra low dispersion elements (ED). The lens also features internal focusing (IF), so thankfully the lens size does not change. Focusing is also very smooth with the M*300/4, so no complaints. A good sturdy tripod/head are still mandatory, even for this smaller telephoto lens. It’s still small enough to fit in one of my camera bags with a 6x7 body attached, so no issues transporting it.Įven though you don’t have to worry about shutter vibrations as much using the 67 M*300/4 compared to other heavier 6x7 super telephoto lenses, I still like to keep the shutter speeds over 1/60, use MLU and a cable release for most shooting. It’s too heavy for me to hand hold, so thankfully this version has a tripod mount. The 67 M*300/4 weighs in at 1650 grams, so it’s 220 grams heavier than the last version of the 67 300/4. The SMC Pentax 67 M*300/4 ED remained in production until the entire Pentax 6x7 system was discontinued in the early 2000’s.Īll Pentax 6x7 lenses are well built and the 67 M*300/4 is no exception. The Pentax M*300/4 was released in 1999 and is a redesign of the old 6x7/67 300/4 which had been around in various versions since the initial release of the Pentax 6x7 system back in 1969. Optics, minimum focusing distance, tripod mount.