[Pål Jensen]

This is fantastic walk around (semi)super telephoto lens. Pocketable. Very sharp at F.8. The fantastic SR function of the K-3III + its great high ISO performance makes this combo hand hold-able in most daylight situations.

This years first spring day. Two days ago. Not a cloud in sight and 13 degrees C. (crossposted to the K-3III picture thread).

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Last edited by Pål Jensen; 04-21-2022 at 05:43 AM.

[northcoastgreg]

With the KP:

[PKSiss]

Unlike many of the posters here, I didn't acquire the DA 55-300 PLM primarily for the long end of its zoom range. I acquired the lens primarily for landscape work. My Tamron 70-200 is just too heavy for that kind of photography; and besides, I prefer Pentax colors for landscapes. I'm shocked how good the PLM is on the wide end. At 55mm it produces more contrasty, saturated images than my A 50 macro, and is nearly as sharp. And while it can't quite match the artistic rendering of the DFA 100 macro at 100mm, it doesn't give up all that much in terms of sharpness to the macro. Very impressive for a consumer grade zoom. Even at 300mm, where it's only moderately sharp, it will still do in a pinch.

Did you do PP on the eagle shot? I have the PLM and have NEVER been able to attain that degree of sharpness. I'm wondering if my lens is defective.

[northcoastgreg]

Did you do PP on the eagle shot?

Yes, I did PP, including adding sharpness. The lens, as I've written, is only "moderately" sharp at 300mm (at least compared to lenses like the DA* 300). In my experinece, the real difference between the DA* 300 and the 55-300 PLM @ 300mm is the PLM doesn't do as well when you crop. You can do a 50% crop with the DA* lens and still get tack sharp 20 inch print. That's more chellenging with the PLM—at least in my experience. So when I do use 300mm on the PLM, if I can't more or less fill the frame, I rarely take the shot. It also helps to keep the ISO down, because that allows for more sharpening in post. And a shutter of speed of 1/250 sec or greater is helpful as well. Here's another 300mm shot from the lens:

[PKSiss]

Yes, I did PP, including adding sharpness. The lens, as I've written, is only "moderately" sharp at 300mm (at least compared to lenses like the DA* 300). In my experinece, the real difference between the DA* 300 and the 55-300 PLM @ 300mm is the PLM doesn't do as well when you crop. You can do a 50% crop with the DA* lens and still get tack sharp 20 inch print. That's more chellenging with the PLM—at least in my experience. So when I do use 300mm on the PLM, if I can't more or less fill the frame, I rarely take the shot. It also helps to keep the ISO down, because that allows for more sharpening in post. And a shutter of speed of 1/250 sec or greater is helpful as well. Here's another 300mm shot from the lens:

Great information, thank you!

[CBM]

Maybe it;s the "hair do" and the over the shoulder look, this Cattle Egret reminds me of Elvis...

[aslyfox]

high overhead, keeping watch

a Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus photographed in the Selous Game Reserve [ now Nyerere National Park ]

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Last edited by aslyfox; 04-30-2022 at 06:07 PM.

[RICHARD L.]

[aslyfox]

lion cub hiding in grass in Serengeti 2019

[jgnfld]

Richard...

Optically, that is a fine lens (as many of the varios 55-300s have been). With screw drive models, focussing on movement is sometimes hard as in BIF pics.

For a scene like this it's just fine.

[RICHARD L.]

Richard...Optically, that is a fine lens (as many of the varios 55-300s have been). With screw drive models, focussing on movement is sometimes hard as in BIF pics.For a scene like this it's just fine.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. This older HD DA 55-300 mm ED zoom performs extremely well for landscape usage on my new K3 III. Contributor "Normhead" confirmed there would be no gain for my style of picture-taking with the new PLM version, the only benefit would be for action pictures where focus-acquisition could prove superior. The accompanying picture taken at 55 mm FL and f/11 demonstrated the optical quality of the lens : edge-to-edge sharpness, superior contrast mastery and amazing resistance to flaring and veiling.

Receive my Best Regards

[aslyfox]

K 3 II + HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

male Cheetahs [ most likely brothers ] on termite mound Serengeti 2019

cropped and pp

SOOC

[john5100]

Love this lens!


by John Rudolph, on Flickr


Snoqualmie Pass by John Rudolph, on Flickr


Chillin’In Gig Harbor by John Rudolph, on Flickr


Thundercat by John Rudolph, on Flickr

[CBM]

Gator floating along, the wind picked up a bit and he had to work a little to maintain position.

[swanlefitte]

In my life I have now had 4 seconds with a scarlet tanager. it was about 120 ft up and 40 ft away. I was still able to get a shot that shows the 1" insect it caught.

Purist will say I should wait another lifetime or 3 if that is what it takes to see one again. Others will say if the photo isn't good enough to print then throw it out. This is like a snap shot of your kid taking their first step.You can't be serious in thinking an imperfect shot has no value.

The insect is about 70 pixels height. an inch form is recognizable from over 125ft away. That is at 38.4meters I can recognize 0.025 meters. This is with the 1.4tc so at 420mm. The bird was so far away it was unrecognizable with the eye despite being the brightest colored bird in this area.