Is the 55-300 supposed to be this loud?

Sitting Bull · 12-09-2010, 05:02 PM

Evening all,
As s newbie to photography and Pentax I was out looking at the 55-300 Pentax lens and I liked it except for the unbelievable loud noise when trying to focus. Compared to the other big 2 Pentax was the loudest. I would like to use this lens for wildlife of all kinds. Would the noise level of this lens in the quietness of the woods affect my success in capturing the shots?
Should I buy it or look at the Sigma 70-300 ? They also have an 18-250 ?

Thanks for your help.

twitch · 12-09-2010, 05:08 PM

The lenses you list are not as good IQ as your 55-300. You can pre-focus your 55-300 to reduce the duration of the noise. Or just buy the DA*60-250

**Ex Finn.** · 12-09-2010, 05:15 PM

The DA55-300 pretty much sounds like a coffee grinder

.

Sitting Bull · 12-09-2010, 05:23 PM

But is the noise going to scare deer, birds etc... Or am I just being to picky?

**Ex Finn.** · 12-09-2010, 05:41 PM

The noise is most likely going to spook deer, specially if you are very close. On some bird shots, I have had birds look around for the source of the noise.
The DA* 60-250 is whisper quiet (at least in my hearing range) but at a cost.

Pentaxor · 12-09-2010, 05:51 PM

I used it during concerts, candid, walkaround lens. I don't notice it at all. if you pay attention to it, it is noisy. for wildlife, if you are considerably distant, it won't matter. up-close could be though, especially with animals that aren't used to strangers.

GaryH · 12-09-2010, 07:51 PM

This guy was 30 feet from me and the 55-300mm did fine. I also use the Bigma that is screw driven and have yet to scare an animal enough to miss a picture. The 55-300mm is a nice relief of weight after toting the Bigma around. Its IQ is just as good if not better than the Bigma.

Attached Images

imtheguy · 12-09-2010, 07:57 PM

If I just mount the 55-300 inside and listen to it, yeah, its louder than others. But after 25,000 shots or so, mostly stalking marsh birds, I never once noticed a subject flinch, fly, wink, or pass gas when I was focusing. Maybe Herons don't care as much as deer and I never was close to the deer but was within 10m of the Herons, less for songbirds. The 18-250 is a great vacation lens for the range but its quality at 250mm is not good enough (IMO) for a wildlife tele compared to the 55-300.

imtheguy · 12-09-2010, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by GaryH

This guy was 30 feet from me and the 55-300mm did fine. .

Well Gary look, that bird has no ears!

Of course he wasn't scared by the grinder

Pentaxor · 12-09-2010, 08:22 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by imtheguy

Well Gary look, that bird has no ears!

Of course he wasn't scared by the grinder

I think they are more sensitive to bullets.

Skog · 12-10-2010, 06:56 AM

Yes it is loud! One of the reasons why I bit the bullet and got the da300.
However in practical use I only scared 1 bird away from the loud AF, so I don't think it's that much of an issue. Prefocus, and use the quick shift focusing to help the AF, it's quiet and saves battery!

12-09-2010, 05:02 PM	#1
Sitting Bull Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 114	Is the 55-300 supposed to be this loud? Evening all, As s newbie to photography and Pentax I was out looking at the 55-300 Pentax lens and I liked it except for the unbelievable loud noise when trying to focus. Compared to the other big 2 Pentax was the loudest. I would like to use this lens for wildlife of all kinds. Would the noise level of this lens in the quietness of the woods affect my success in capturing the shots? Should I buy it or look at the Sigma 70-300 ? They also have an 18-250 ? Thanks for your help.

12-09-2010, 05:15 PM	#3
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	The DA55-300 pretty much sounds like a coffee grinder.

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12-09-2010, 05:08 PM	#2
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	The lenses you list are not as good IQ as your 55-300. You can pre-focus your 55-300 to reduce the duration of the noise. Or just buy the DA*60-250

12-09-2010, 05:23 PM	#4
Sitting Bull Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 114 Original Poster	But is the noise going to scare deer, birds etc... Or am I just being to picky?

12-09-2010, 05:41 PM	#5
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	The noise is most likely going to spook deer, specially if you are very close. On some bird shots, I have had birds look around for the source of the noise. The DA* 60-250 is whisper quiet (at least in my hearing range) but at a cost.

12-09-2010, 05:51 PM	#6
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	I used it during concerts, candid, walkaround lens. I don't notice it at all. if you pay attention to it, it is noisy. for wildlife, if you are considerably distant, it won't matter. up-close could be though, especially with animals that aren't used to strangers.

12-09-2010, 07:51 PM	#7
GaryH Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Philadelphia, Pa Photos: Gallery Posts: 764	This guy was 30 feet from me and the 55-300mm did fine. I also use the Bigma that is screw driven and have yet to scare an animal enough to miss a picture. The 55-300mm is a nice relief of weight after toting the Bigma around. Its IQ is just as good if not better than the Bigma. Attached Images

12-09-2010, 07:57 PM	#8
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	If I just mount the 55-300 inside and listen to it, yeah, its louder than others. But after 25,000 shots or so, mostly stalking marsh birds, I never once noticed a subject flinch, fly, wink, or pass gas when I was focusing. Maybe Herons don't care as much as deer and I never was close to the deer but was within 10m of the Herons, less for songbirds. The 18-250 is a great vacation lens for the range but its quality at 250mm is not good enough (IMO) for a wildlife tele compared to the 55-300.

12-09-2010, 08:00 PM	#9
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	Originally posted by GaryH This guy was 30 feet from me and the 55-300mm did fine. . Well Gary look, that bird has no ears! Of course he wasn't scared by the grinder

12-09-2010, 08:22 PM - 1 Like	#10
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by imtheguy Well Gary look, that bird has no ears! Of course he wasn't scared by the grinder I think they are more sensitive to bullets.

12-10-2010, 06:56 AM	#11
Skog Inactive Account Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 167	Yes it is loud! One of the reasons why I bit the bullet and got the da300. However in practical use I only scared 1 bird away from the loud AF, so I don't think it's that much of an issue. Prefocus, and use the quick shift focusing to help the AF, it's quiet and saves battery!