Need avice on DA (L) 55-300 vs. Sigma/Tamron 70-300

johnha · 04-18-2013, 05:06 PM

I have an old Sigma 70-300 APO (bought around the time Samsung started using the Pentax mount). As others have said it appears to fall off towards the long end unless it's stopped down or there's a lot of contrast in the subject. I wouldn't consider the non-APO version. I haven't used the DA 55-300 so can't comment. I also have a Tamron 70-300 SP 3.8-5.4 (19AH?), but haven't really used it since buying the Sigma due to it being MF (I must try it sometime on the K-5).

Boker · 11-16-2013, 09:23 AM

For me this is an interesting thread.I have been using the Pentax 4.7-5.8 100-300 for several years but like the idea of the short end of the 55-300
Wish I had bought one as part of the kit when I bought a K-X.Would really like to have a lens 300 on the long end but below 100 on the short end but don't want to loose image quality.Probably strange to most people but it is hard for me to use a lens without an aperture ring as my old mind don't adapt well to something new.Can look at an exposure in the LCD and give the ring a twist without looking if exposure needs tweaked.Guess I should start using the kit lens some and get used to not having the aperture ring and get the 55-300 as it seems it can't be beat with a reasonably
priced third party lens.

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04-18-2013, 05:06 PM	#16
johnha Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lancashire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,155	I have an old Sigma 70-300 APO (bought around the time Samsung started using the Pentax mount). As others have said it appears to fall off towards the long end unless it's stopped down or there's a lot of contrast in the subject. I wouldn't consider the non-APO version. I haven't used the DA 55-300 so can't comment. I also have a Tamron 70-300 SP 3.8-5.4 (19AH?), but haven't really used it since buying the Sigma due to it being MF (I must try it sometime on the K-5).

11-16-2013, 09:23 AM	#17
Boker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: SW Florida Posts: 234	For me this is an interesting thread.I have been using the Pentax 4.7-5.8 100-300 for several years but like the idea of the short end of the 55-300 Wish I had bought one as part of the kit when I bought a K-X.Would really like to have a lens 300 on the long end but below 100 on the short end but don't want to loose image quality.Probably strange to most people but it is hard for me to use a lens without an aperture ring as my old mind don't adapt well to something new.Can look at an exposure in the LCD and give the ring a twist without looking if exposure needs tweaked.Guess I should start using the kit lens some and get used to not having the aperture ring and get the 55-300 as it seems it can't be beat with a reasonably priced third party lens.