Originally posted by Bryans86 The k500 has something call focus peaking? I have tried it a few times and it seems to highlight the area in focus in live view only on my camera body.
Yep that's how it works.
Originally posted by Bryans86 The DA 55 - 300mm is what I had thought about settling on but at this point I am really not sure.
The 55-300 is probably the best "consumer" zoom available new. The 50-200 doesn't hold a candle to it. The Tamron and Sigma 70-300 are not quite as good although less expensive.
Within your budget I'd get that lens if you want a new lens. If you want used, you can still find it, and the other lens I would consider is the FA 100-300 f4,7 (not f4.5). It's not as wide, it's bigger, but it's light, extremely reliable in good light, low aberrations, quick to focus (the torque is surprising the first time) and sharp enough. I kept it until I purchased the 60-250 (another league, IQ and price-wise).