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05-08-2020, 06:52 AM - 1 Like   #16
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The older 55-300 screw drive lenses are f4-5.8; the newer PLM lens is f4.5-6.3. This slight drop in optical "speed" probably won't be noticed much in practical use.

05-08-2020, 07:06 AM - 2 Likes   #17
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Even if the PLM version is a bit "slower", you don't need to stop down as much as the older 55-300s to get the best result, so I do not consider the slighty reduced maximum aperture to be a problem on the PLM. Besides, up to 260, maximum aperture is 5.6 on the PLM, so if you do need the additional third stop, just zoom out a bit.

The PLM has a hood (if you buy it new) whereas the DA-L has not (but really cheap hoods for it are available). Without hood, you may suffer from lack of contrast due to flare.
The PLM has quick-shift (sort of, since it's focus-by-wire), whereas the DA-L has not. For a telezoom, I find that quick-shift like ability is a must to help the AF to focus on the right subject.

By the way I find your shots great, except #3 and #4, but it looks like missed focus, something that the PLM would solve with lightning fast AF -and- quick-shift. Besides, PLM silent AF will allow you taking photos without scaring your subjects.
05-08-2020, 07:13 AM   #18
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The PLM is not an option for me since I have a K-5. The 60-250 is noticable better than the older 55-300s, but not the fastest focusing (and much bigger and heavier.)
05-08-2020, 07:34 AM - 1 Like   #19
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
The older 55-300 screw drive lenses are f4-5.8; the newer PLM lens is f4.5-6.3. This slight drop in optical "speed" probably won't be noticed much in practical use.
The difference is the PLM is reasonably sharp at F6.3...

05-08-2020, 07:43 AM - 1 Like   #20
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I have both the SMC DA (same as yours but with the metal mount) and the HD PLM version of your lens. As others have said, the HD PLM is sharper with much faster and quieter auto focusing, and produces just an overall better rendering than the SMC DA. However, both lenses tend to get a little soft when zoomed in to 300mm. From 55-275mm or so they are much better. Also the HD PLM's minimum aperture of 6.3 is not reached until zoomed to about 275mm, otherwise it stays at 4.5-5.6. I haven't used the SMC DA since I got the HD PLM. For ultimate sharpness at 300mm get the DA* 300mm prime, but that's an entirely different discussion.
05-08-2020, 08:20 AM   #21
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The newest RE version is best, by a good way. No further debate needed.
05-08-2020, 10:10 AM - 1 Like   #22
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I had an FA 80-320 mm that gave good results with my K5 but was abysmal on the K3. The lens just quit and died a few weeks ago (I had paid 115 $ for it so repair is out of the question). Instead I got a second-hand DA 55-300 mm f/4-5.8 HD on eBay from Japan for a good price and in like-new condition. I tried it on a K20 that had been mothballed for a few years and it performed admirably well (first image, 300 mm @ f/11). Last week I mounted the HD lens on my K3 and, lo and behold, it keeps performing admirably well even on a 24 Mpx sensor (second image : 90 mm @ f/11). Just my 2 cents.


Last edited by RICHARD L.; 05-08-2020 at 12:24 PM.
05-08-2020, 10:47 AM   #23
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I would check your technique against your lens first. Stabilize it on a tripod with delay and focus in live view, do this 10 times at different focal lengths. Take it off the tripod and see how much you lose with technique. If the shots compare well upgrade. If not the upgrade won't help much and drill technique.
05-08-2020, 11:09 AM   #24
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QuoteOriginally posted by Bertrand3000 Quote
Even if the PLM version is a bit "slower", you don't need to stop down as much as the older 55-300s to get the best result, so I do not consider the slighty reduced maximum aperture to be a problem on the PLM. Besides, up to 260, maximum aperture is 5.6 on the PLM, so if you do need the additional third stop, just zoom out a bit.
I agree with this. I will often shoot with the PLM wide open and get more than acceptable results.
05-08-2020, 12:25 PM   #25
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QuoteOriginally posted by mlines Quote
Perhaps I am being over critical. I use it across the focal length range.









The attached moon photo is manually focussed using live view but was really difficult to get it focussed at all. It has been processed in light room and heavily cropped to get the moon large
If I were you I would be proud of the results. The picture of the dog is superb. I get the urge to stroke it, it seems so very real. I think the DAL 55-300 is a great lens. The PLM is a different kind of lens. But I do not think that the PLM is so much better that you should spent money on it. I own the PLM and it is fun to make pictures with. I bought the PLM new for the price of a second hand SMC 55-300 DA version. Just one of those offers... To return to the picture of the dog: I'm jealous, it is such a lovely picture and it is not soft at all. You are too critical (hope it is not your eyesight...) and my advice is: stick to your DAL 55-300.
05-08-2020, 12:33 PM   #26
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QuoteOriginally posted by AfterPentax Quote
If I were you I would be proud of the results. The picture of the dog is superb. I get the urge to stroke it, it seems so very real. I think the DAL 55-300 is a great lens. The PLM is a different kind of lens. But I do not think that the PLM is so much better that you should spent money on it. I own the PLM and it is fun to make pictures with. I bought the PLM new for the price of a second hand SMC 55-300 DA version. Just one of those offers... To return to the picture of the dog: I'm jealous, it is such a lovely picture and it is not soft at all. You are too critical (hope it is not your eyesight...) and my advice is: stick to your DAL 55-300.
Thanks, perhaps it's because being there in real life I could directly see nuances in the dogs fur that the camera didn't capture (or I didn't capture as a photographer). I now wear reading glasses and certainly have a preference for sharpening in pictures.
05-08-2020, 12:43 PM - 1 Like   #27
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I’m with AfterPentax, my DAL gave good enough results on my old K5ii:

DA55-300WR | Flickr

and with a newer KP the focus and IQ is even better.
05-08-2020, 12:54 PM   #28
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QuoteOriginally posted by timb64 Quote
I’m with AfterPentax, my DAL gave good enough results on my old K5ii:



DA55-300WR | Flickr



and with a newer KP the focus and IQ is even better.
Lovely pictures!

05-08-2020, 12:59 PM   #29
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QuoteOriginally posted by timb64 Quote
I’m with AfterPentax, my DAL gave good enough results on my old K5ii:

DA55-300WR | Flickr

and with a newer KP the focus and IQ is even better.
Very nice indeed, Tim. The photo of the flower ("Thailand October 2017 125") - 300mm at f/6.3 - is a really nice demonstration of the rendering I find so appealing. Awesome, considering the price of the lens...
05-08-2020, 01:59 PM   #30
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I had the older DA 55-300 (pre WR) and I liked it a lot, I had to use quick shift since the autofocus was so slow and image quality was not good wide open, stopped down it was. I gave it to my son after getting the DA*300, because I didn't use the lower parts of the zoom that much anyway. When I got a KP I ended up buying the 55-300 PLM too after reading so many good things about it, mainly the autofocus speed. I will have to say it's one of the best lens buys I ever made. It and the KP seemed to be a matched pair, which should be close on the K-70 too. First, the KP works extremely well in low light, as I believe the K-70 does. The PLM lens does great wide open. And the fast autofocus is a great improvement over the previous 55-300s. Another plus is that it takes up so little space retracted. I understand the appeal of the 60-250 is a more expensive lens that should produce superior IQ, but it wil only produce it to 250mm, not 300. Sometimes it's had to tell the difference from a 300mm photo from my DA*300 or the 55-300 PLM, but that can only be arbitrary, since no two opportunities are the same. Some shots that I miss with the DA*300 are because of slow focus, no problem with the PLM focus. That's a hard decision to make sometime on which of the two lenses to use, I love them both. Of course I'd love to have the 150-450, but that's out of my budget range, at least for the near future.
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