smcp da 55-300 vs da 55-300

cotty · 05-29-2015, 09:57 AM

Hey guys, can you clarify something form me. I have been checking on Amazon for a 55-300mm lens. I saw 2 lenses Pentax smcp da 55-300 for $270.00 and da 55-300 for $311. These are both brand new and offered by the same seller. I contacted the seller and they say that the one for $270 which is listed as smcp da 55-300 is a USA lens and not "grey market". The other is listed as da 55-300mm. Now both of these lenses are from the same seller.

What is the difference?

photolady95 · 05-29-2015, 10:01 AM

Second one is probably the WR version. I would email the seller. You can to do that on Amazon, I think it's listed under contact seller after you click on the ad.

**jatrax** · 05-29-2015, 10:46 AM

"smcp" really does not mean anything, it usually is a typo or indicates a seller that is not careful. 'SMC' is the coating used on most Pentax lenses until very recently and would be correct for the DA 55-300. The 'P' just means Pentax. There is also an HD DA 55-300 that has newer 'HD' coatings and is WR as well.

SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

There is also a DA L 55-300 that is the less expensive 'kit' version and has no quick shift or hood.

If you post links to the seller someone might be able to tell more.

sterretje · 05-29-2015, 10:46 AM

For $260, I see the DA-L version. For $311, I see the normal DA version. Difference is that the DA-L version has a plastic mount (not a real issue), does not have a distance scale, does not have quickshift and comes without a lens hood.

Neither is the WR version.

If you provide links to the lenses, we can provide more accurate information instead of guessing.

jimr-pdx · 05-29-2015, 07:08 PM

Optically they are all the same. That's worth knowing if the budget is tight!

If you see no distance markings on the focus rings it's the SMC DAL. If you see a red ring near the focus ring it's the HD DA with weather seals (the most recent model). Distance marks and no red ring it's the SMC DA (with green ring near the mount). Hoods can be bought and lost, and sellers might 'mis-type' or otherwise get labels wrong - but if you see the lens itself that's how you tell which is which.

05-29-2015, 09:57 AM	#1
cotty New Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 15	smcp da 55-300 vs da 55-300 Hey guys, can you clarify something form me. I have been checking on Amazon for a 55-300mm lens. I saw 2 lenses Pentax smcp da 55-300 for $270.00 and da 55-300 for $311. These are both brand new and offered by the same seller. I contacted the seller and they say that the one for $270 which is listed as smcp da 55-300 is a USA lens and not "grey market". The other is listed as da 55-300mm. Now both of these lenses are from the same seller. What is the difference?

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05-29-2015, 10:01 AM	#2
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Second one is probably the WR version. I would email the seller. You can to do that on Amazon, I think it's listed under contact seller after you click on the ad.

05-29-2015, 10:46 AM	#3
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,992	"smcp" really does not mean anything, it usually is a typo or indicates a seller that is not careful. 'SMC' is the coating used on most Pentax lenses until very recently and would be correct for the DA 55-300. The 'P' just means Pentax. There is also an HD DA 55-300 that has newer 'HD' coatings and is WR as well. SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database There is also a DA L 55-300 that is the less expensive 'kit' version and has no quick shift or hood. If you post links to the seller someone might be able to tell more.

05-29-2015, 10:46 AM	#4
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	For $260, I see the DA-L version. For $311, I see the normal DA version. Difference is that the DA-L version has a plastic mount (not a real issue), does not have a distance scale, does not have quickshift and comes without a lens hood. Neither is the WR version. If you provide links to the lenses, we can provide more accurate information instead of guessing.

05-29-2015, 07:08 PM	#5
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	Optically they are all the same. That's worth knowing if the budget is tight! If you see no distance markings on the focus rings it's the SMC DAL. If you see a red ring near the focus ring it's the HD DA with weather seals (the most recent model). Distance marks and no red ring it's the SMC DA (with green ring near the mount). Hoods can be bought and lost, and sellers might 'mis-type' or otherwise get labels wrong - but if you see the lens itself that's how you tell which is which.