[k100d]

Pentax SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED - Review / Test Report

not spectacular, but good.

[Alfisti]

Some of the images on dpreview have been encouraging, especially the wide open performance.

I am a bit torn on this lens, i am still disspointed it is not SDM and a little better optically, I can handle $500.

I really think nikon have this figured out with a decent 50-200 then the excellent 70-300 at around $500 rather than closer to $300.

Considering the 60-250 is $1,500, we don't have a longish lens that is above "average" consumer quality that is affordable.

[celetron]

Well, I got the lens a few days ago, and still didn't have the time to test it... However, the photos with a bit of sharpening look fine to me... Colour and contrast are very nice in general. But I cannot say if the lens is winner or not... I suppose 60-250/4 will be a stellar lens but even the 50-300 is not that bad as you may think...



and a couple of full crops





All photos captured with K20D

[Vmax911]

I was planning on upgrading my Tamron 70-300mm di to the Pentax 55-300mm. Looks like the Tamron beats the Pentax resolution wise. The Pentax seems to have CA under control more at 200mm, but it's a toss-up at 300mm. I've heard that the Pentax is all around better than the Tamron. Do you think Photozone had a bad copy, or the numbers really not everything?

[celetron]

If you are asking me, I saw no CA so far... I cannot say anything about resolution yet and I cannot compare it with Tamron since I do not own any copy of it...

[audiobomber]

Do you think Photozone had a bad copy, or the numbers really not everything?

AFAIC, it was a bad copy. I did a resolution test vs my Tamron 70-300 and the 55-300mm was clearly sharper. Also note that the Photozone test does not jibe with the PopPhoto test:

"Sharpness and contrast were in the Excellent SQF range at all tested focal lengths -- quite surprising for a lens this inexpensive and this long. (We would have expected a drop into the Very Good, even Good, ranges.)"
Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 - - PopPhotoSeptember 2008

So now PhotoZone has a bad review of the DA 50-200 and a mediocre review of the 55-300. I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but if it happens a third time I'll have to wonder.

[k100d]

to me, the lens is pretty good. saturated and contrasty colours. the "close focus" is sometimes handy too. i haven't really checked to see how sharp it is, but it's not bad imo. opn the test, pretty impressed by the relatively low CA and Vignetting. just lacking a bit of sharpness in the corners, but that doesn't matter as much on a tele lens.

[clawhammer]

I fear not that there is a conspiracy, but that pentax doesn't quite have their QC tight enough.