How many people are still waiting on the DA 55-300mm

opiedog · 06-15-2008, 05:31 AM

anne,

thanks for the info.
hope the 55-300 is treating you well!

regards,
jordan

Zenfolio | Jordan Paw Image Arts

AML · 06-15-2008, 05:49 AM

You're welcome, Jordan.

Sadly, the weather hasn't been good here for more playtime with the 55-300.

Hope your's is still impressing you.

lesmore49 · 06-15-2008, 08:31 AM

Got mine last Thursday. Apparently first one sold in the city. The dealer has 2 more in stock and mine was in stock since late April. I have taken just a few pictures with it, the local wild rabbit, couple of birds and my mail box. It focuses fast, not too noisy and the pictures are clear, sharp and the colour rendition seems really great.

I'm happy. I figure for my purposes I got everything I need, 360 flash, Pentax 16-45, my old Pentax A 35-105 and my K10D.

daacon · 06-15-2008, 09:44 AM

It't worth the wait IMHO here are few from yesterday (Shameless self promotion !)

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/30003-out-birding-da-55-300-a.html

AML · 06-15-2008, 04:52 PM

Very nice, Dave. I like the colour and sharpness, especially in the pelican and sparrow pics.

Matt Miller · 06-15-2008, 07:43 PM

Mine arrived on Friday. I'm not impressed and will be sending it back. It hunts too much in average to low light and is very loud. It seems to have good image quality, but is not what I expected otherwise.

audiobomber · 06-16-2008, 06:13 AM

Originally posted by Matt Miller

Mine arrived on Friday. I'm not impressed and will be sending it back. It hunts too much in average to low light and is very loud. It seems to have good image quality, but is not what I expected otherwise.

My 55-300mm came on Friday and I'm disappointed as well. Nice colours, but handling and IQ are way too close to the Tamron 70-300mm Di for a lens that's 3X the price. I find the Tamron is slightly sharper at 70mm and the 55-300 is slightly sharper at 300mm. Both produce some CA, the Tamron produces slightly more. AF on the Tamron isn't great by any means, but unfortunately it beats the Pentax. Build quality, size, weight and noise aren't significantly different. The Tamron does better at Macro. I like the wider 55mm end, but I may send the 55-300mm back as well.

Last edited by audiobomber; 06-16-2008 at 06:37 AM.

audiobomber · 06-17-2008, 04:18 AM

I decided to keep the 55-300mm. I'm sure that if I didn't already have the Tamron 70-300mm Di, I'd be more than thrilled with the 55-300mm. It's definitely good value, it's just that at $130 street price, the Tamron is outrageously good value.

I'm keeping the 55-300mm because of; wider angle, slightly brighter colours, slightly lower CA, creamier bokeh, sharper at 300mm, and Quick Shift focus. In the end, those improvements were sufficient to justify the cost difference. I'm still disappointed with the sound and occasional AF hunting. Quick Shift at least allows me to control focus without searching for that annoying MF/AF button.

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06-15-2008, 05:31 AM	#31
opiedog Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NC Posts: 787	anne, thanks for the info. hope the 55-300 is treating you well! regards, jordan Zenfolio \| Jordan Paw Image Arts

06-15-2008, 05:49 AM	#32
AML Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 212 Original Poster	You're welcome, Jordan. Sadly, the weather hasn't been good here for more playtime with the 55-300. Hope your's is still impressing you.

06-15-2008, 08:31 AM	#33
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,350	Got mine last Thursday. Apparently first one sold in the city. The dealer has 2 more in stock and mine was in stock since late April. I have taken just a few pictures with it, the local wild rabbit, couple of birds and my mail box. It focuses fast, not too noisy and the pictures are clear, sharp and the colour rendition seems really great. I'm happy. I figure for my purposes I got everything I need, 360 flash, Pentax 16-45, my old Pentax A 35-105 and my K10D.

06-15-2008, 09:44 AM	#34
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	It't worth the wait IMHO here are few from yesterday (Shameless self promotion !) https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/30003-out-birding-da-55-300-a.html

06-15-2008, 04:52 PM	#35
AML Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 212 Original Poster	Very nice, Dave. I like the colour and sharpness, especially in the pelican and sparrow pics.

06-15-2008, 07:43 PM	#36
Matt Miller Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cambridge, Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 339	Mine arrived on Friday. I'm not impressed and will be sending it back. It hunts too much in average to low light and is very loud. It seems to have good image quality, but is not what I expected otherwise.

06-16-2008, 06:13 AM	#37
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by Matt Miller Mine arrived on Friday. I'm not impressed and will be sending it back. It hunts too much in average to low light and is very loud. It seems to have good image quality, but is not what I expected otherwise. My 55-300mm came on Friday and I'm disappointed as well. Nice colours, but handling and IQ are way too close to the Tamron 70-300mm Di for a lens that's 3X the price. I find the Tamron is slightly sharper at 70mm and the 55-300 is slightly sharper at 300mm. Both produce some CA, the Tamron produces slightly more. AF on the Tamron isn't great by any means, but unfortunately it beats the Pentax. Build quality, size, weight and noise aren't significantly different. The Tamron does better at Macro. I like the wider 55mm end, but I may send the 55-300mm back as well. Last edited by audiobomber; 06-16-2008 at 06:37 AM.

06-17-2008, 04:18 AM	#38
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	I decided to keep the 55-300mm. I'm sure that if I didn't already have the Tamron 70-300mm Di, I'd be more than thrilled with the 55-300mm. It's definitely good value, it's just that at $130 street price, the Tamron is outrageously good value. I'm keeping the 55-300mm because of; wider angle, slightly brighter colours, slightly lower CA, creamier bokeh, sharper at 300mm, and Quick Shift focus. In the end, those improvements were sufficient to justify the cost difference. I'm still disappointed with the sound and occasional AF hunting. Quick Shift at least allows me to control focus without searching for that annoying MF/AF button.