DA 18-250 v. DA 55-300

flippedgazelle · 10-10-2009, 04:07 PM

I'm curious, issue of focal lengths put aside for the moment, which lens is better in terms of IQ?

Pentaxor · 10-10-2009, 04:16 PM

the DA 55-300.

flippedgazelle · 10-10-2009, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Pentaxor

the DA 55-300.

Just the kind of answer I like - short and to the point!

I had figured the 55-300 was better, but another opinion can be helpful.

audiobomber · 10-10-2009, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by flippedgazelle

Just the kind of answer I like - short and to the point!

I had figured the 55-300 was better, but another opinion can be helpful.

OK, the 55-300 is better.

To elaborate; at the same FL's, the 55-300 is contrastier, with better colour accuracy and is about 1/2 stop faster. My 55-300 is also sharper than the superzoom, most especially at the long end and wide open (max aperture being very important with these slow lenses). The 55-300 is significantly longer, because the 18-250 is an internal focus design and loses range at less than infinity focus, all the way down to 135mm at min focus.

The 18-250 is an amazing all-rounder, but the 55-300 kicks its butt as a telephoto lens.