[malenisjaj]

Maybe the duel isn't right due to Tamron's older and everything is manually (except aperture ring) and on the other hand, smc is pretty new. But, the thing is I don't mind doing everything manually but if you look into IQ, is Tamron better then this cheap (but with good reviews in forum database) pentax?
Maybe you have another lens which is better and not that expencive for lens zoom to 300mm?

Kind regards.

[Oldbayrunner]

The Aperture ring on the Tamron will still be manual unless it is coupled with the Pentak KA adapter, which if it doesn't have one when you purchase it will additionally cost upwards of $50.00 just for that. Even then you can run into difficulty getting it to work properly from my experience. Afaik, the Silver Smc-fa 100-300mm f4.7-5.8 has a better rating then the black edition. Although the Tamron is a fine lens, If it were me given the choice I would opt for the 100-300mm first.

[GibbyTheMole]

I have the Tamron 60-300, and I also have a Pentax DA-L 55-300. The Tamron is very similar in IQ to the Pentax DA 55-300, which is to say it's very good. The Tamron also has a real macro mode which gets you up to 1:1.55 magnification.

That particular FA 100-300 is very well-regarded, though. I don't think you'd go wrong with either.

[malenisjaj]

I have the Tamron 60-300, and I also have a Pentax DA-L 55-300. The Tamron is very similar in IQ to the Pentax DA 55-300, which is to say it's very good. The Tamron also has a real macro mode which gets you up to 1:1.55 magnification.

That particular FA 100-300 is very well-regarded, though. I don't think you'd go wrong with either.

And between FA 100-300 and DA-L 55-300, who is better?

[vonBaloney]

I've had both (silver FA), both have very good IQ. You'll probably see more green/magenta bokeh fringing on the Tamron (all of the Adaptalls are like that). The Tamron will be harder to use aperture-wise even with a PKA mount because it is variable aperture depending on zoom setting and the mount doesn't account for that. And it is much bigger and heavier than the FA (which is surprisingly lightweight). But it is a pleasure to manually focus, and the macro mode is nice. You need to use a hood (often not included) with either one of them -- the front element is not recessed at all.

The FA is a terrible lens for manual focus design-wise, so plan on AF only if you go that route. No macro mode, minimum distance is 5 feet or so. Considering the IQ, both tend to be great bargains -- the FA usually goes for $75-$90, the Tamron about 20 bucks less. The FA is harder to find. (I actually have a copy of the Tamron for sale if anyone is interested.) If you shoot things that move or want to keep the size/weight down, I'd go with the FA. If shooting slow and deliberate and want to shoot close-up to close-up objects, the Tamron is a fine choice. (The macro mode is somewhat hard to get into on some copies apparently, although on mine it works great.)

[malenisjaj]

Hmm. Perhaps the best thing is to save the money, play with the current lenses and in a few months buy SMC Pentax-DA* 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM.

Thank you all!

Edit: Or Sigma 70-200 f2.8.

[vonBaloney]

Hmm. Perhaps the best thing is to save the money, play with the current lenses and in a few months buy SMC Pentax-DA* 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM.

It is only 16x as much, give or take!

[malenisjaj]

It is only 16x as much, give or take!

I'm aware of that.

Edit: Or perhaps, I should be more modest.

[GibbyTheMole]

And between FA 100-300 and DA-L 55-300, who is better?

The consensus is that the DA (or DA-L) 55-300 is a bit better.

[tibbitts]

Maybe the duel isn't right due to Tamron's older and everything is manually (except aperture ring) and on the other hand, smc is pretty new. But, the thing is I don't mind doing everything manually but if you look into IQ, is Tamron better then this cheap (but with good reviews in forum database) pentax?
Maybe you have another lens which is better and not that expencive for lens zoom to 300mm?

Kind regards.

I don't have either lens, but I've had five Pentax 55-300s and a Tamron 70-300 (used, but the current K-mount model, which isn't the current Tamron for other brands, of course.) I don't see why, for the same price, you wouldn't consider a used copy of the current Tamron AF model. The biggest advantage of the 55-300 vs. the Tamron is the 15mm at the low end, but you're not getting that with either of the choices you're listing, either. I have the Pentax 100-300F, and can tell you that 70-300 is a lot handier than 100-300.

[malenisjaj]

I don't have either lens, but I've had five Pentax 55-300s and a Tamron 70-300 (used, but the current K-mount model, which isn't the current Tamron for other brands, of course.) I don't see why, for the same price, you wouldn't consider a used copy of the current Tamron AF model. The biggest advantage of the 55-300 vs. the Tamron is the 15mm at the low end, but you're not getting that with either of the choices you're listing, either. I have the Pentax 100-300F, and can tell you that 70-300 is a lot handier than 100-300.

What Tamron? This one: https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tamron-70-300mm-f4-5-6-af-di-ld-macro.html
or this: https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tamron-af-70-300mm-f-4-5-6-ld-tele-m...odel-772d.html

[ChristianRock]

The current Tamron 70-300 is the furst one, malenisjaj. The LD DI model. The DI stands for "digital coating", aimed at reducing fringing - which the older versions of the 70-300 Tamron design are famous for. I just got that model recently. It does still have issues with fringing, but it's not as big a deal as some make it out to be, at least with my copy of the lens. My Pentax-A lenses fare much, much worse - but also render images better. Still, the Tamron has its purpose in my lineup and it's not a bad lens, even if it doesn't have that "Pentax look" that I love. The fringing is easily dealt with in PP, as it happens in high contrast areas and not in out of focus areas, like my A 70-210 f4...
I paid 80 dollars for mine in excellent condition, with both caps and the original hood. If that's not a great deal, I don't know what is...

[tibbitts]

What Tamron? This one: Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 AF Di LD Macro Lens Reviews - Tamron Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
or this: Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD Tele-Macro [1:2] (Model 772D) Lens Reviews - Tamron Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

It's the former. It has some pros and cons vs. the Pentax 55-300, but overall they're pretty close, especially if you have something else to cover that 55-70mm range (I don't.) The older version in the other link is probably more common in the used market, but for the difference in price, I'd hold out for the newer one with the revised coating, which is the only model I have (brief) experience with. The price has increased quite a lot on new copies in the past year, to about $200, but if you can find a like-new copy in the $80-ish range it's probably worth the risk of buying used. There don't seem to be a lot of complaints about inconsistency between copies with this model. I've only owned one copy and although I haven't tested it as extensively as my many copies of the 55-300, I can already tell with at least some confidence that it doesn't have obvious weaknesses (one corner/edge obviously worse than others) in either practical applications or test-chart images.