Originally posted by frank2001 I said I was new and ignorant to Pentax, not photography.
I've been shooting for 40+ years (yes my eyesight is still 20/20) so, I know when a lens is defective or exhibits front/back focusing! Geez.
If I didn't have the 2 lenses at the same time I would have been very impressed with the 55-300mm, sans the very slow AF.
The IQ was quite good but not as good as my 80-320mm.
Maybe you got a bad 80-320mm?
I am assuming you actually had one of each and compared yours with different results?
Frank
as far as I know, you are only the second person who had mentioned that, out of a few owners who had owned both lenses. in the first instance, the same argument was presented but wasn't able to present atleast a comparative result to see the significant differences between the two lenses. this absence raise more a question of fact rather than subjectivity. the point is, there is no clear way of telling which lens is better in terms of IQ. mind you also that lenses act differently from each other, so the parameters and settings used play a major role in exploiting the lens' capability. aside from the issue of lack of sharpness and contrast which is not only limited to BF and FF issue but rather something to do with other factors of lens contruction (shit happens sometimes). anyway, user-error is also another factor.
anyway, the point is, some people don't share your perspective nor does it deem them to be less knowledgeable. it's just too bad that you can't provide some useful info that might have given a new shed of light regarding the 80-320. as long as you are happy with the 80-320, that's ok. but no need to shoot a lens which had earned it's good reputation, especially if no images are presented, IMO.