Landscape New lens (DA 55-300mm) vs Quantaray 70-300mm

New lens (DA 55-300mm) vs Quantaray 70-300mm · 07:09 PM

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[/IMG]I recently received my DA 55-300 lens and tried some comparison shots against my Quantaray 70-300 lens.The first 2 shots are with the Pentax and the last 4 are a combination of both from the same spot tripod mounted.These pics are "right out of the box" with no PP.I thought that the Pentax would have a marked difference but the last 2 sets look pretty darn the same.

I'm a little disappointed right now and need some cheering up.Any advice would be greatly appreciated--CharlieZap

BillM · 08-30-2010, 11:10 PM

Hi Charlie, I 'recognize' the lens in first two, has that 'look' to it just as mine does.
How you think the auto-focus of the 2 measure up?

icywarm · 08-30-2010, 11:24 PM

These are 'pretty easy' shots.... you might start noticing a difference with things like Black birds vs cloud sky and the DA goes to 55 vs 70... which I would think is mildly wider.

Do they have the same Ap? Try testing them across a dimmer room like a hockey rink. I find any lens, under good conditions, will give ok results... push them a little... that's when you test their mustard.

charliezap · 08-31-2010, 03:04 AM

Originally posted by BillM

Hi Charlie, I 'recognize' the lens in first two, has that 'look' to it just as mine does.
How you think the auto-focus of the 2 measure up?

For this series of shots the AF seems the same---Charliezap

Originally posted by icywarm

These are 'pretty easy' shots.... you might start noticing a difference with things like Black birds vs cloud sky and the DA goes to 55 vs 70... which I would think is mildly wider.

Do they have the same Ap? Try testing them across a dimmer room like a hockey rink. I find any lens, under good conditions, will give ok results... push them a little... that's when you test their mustard.

Later today I may take some shots of my bird feeders from 20ft distance and check out the IQ of the shots.I always thought that the Quantaray was a decent lens.Maybe I'm expecting way to much improvement from the DA lens.--charliezap

**dcmsox2004** · 08-31-2010, 05:07 AM

hey charlie... hang in there.. as others will note... once you push the limits of the 55-300mm, you'll see improved results over the q70-300mm lens.... you'll get less purple fringing, and for me, sharper shots and also, pentax colors. i had the tammy 70-300mm lens a while ago... and in a less than scientific comparison.... the pentax lens was superior.... check out the reviews in our forum for the pentax lens... i've found shooting longer distance shots 200-300mm at f8, gave me sharper pics..... i always thought the q70-300mm tech 10 was a good lens, and it's not bad... but the pentax will yield better colors and sharper shots, with fewer fringing in high contrast shots.... keep pluggin' away.... dave m

charliezap · 08-31-2010, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

hey charlie... hang in there.. as others will note... once you push the limits of the 55-300mm, you'll see improved results over the q70-300mm lens.... you'll get less purple fringing, and for me, sharper shots and also, pentax colors. i had the tammy 70-300mm lens a while ago... and in a less than scientific comparison.... the pentax lens was superior.... check out the reviews in our forum for the pentax lens... i've found shooting longer distance shots 200-300mm at f8, gave me sharper pics..... i always thought the q70-300mm tech 10 was a good lens, and it's not bad... but the pentax will yield better colors and sharper shots, with fewer fringing in high contrast shots.... keep pluggin' away.... dave m

Thanks Dave--I'm going to shoot some comparison pics at f/4 and see what happens--charliezap

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08-30-2010, 11:10 PM	#2
BillM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ferguson, Mo. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,348	Hi Charlie, I 'recognize' the lens in first two, has that 'look' to it just as mine does. How you think the auto-focus of the 2 measure up?

08-30-2010, 11:24 PM	#3
icywarm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,278	These are 'pretty easy' shots.... you might start noticing a difference with things like Black birds vs cloud sky and the DA goes to 55 vs 70... which I would think is mildly wider. Do they have the same Ap? Try testing them across a dimmer room like a hockey rink. I find any lens, under good conditions, will give ok results... push them a little... that's when you test their mustard.

08-31-2010, 03:04 AM	#4
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686 Original Poster	Originally posted by BillM Hi Charlie, I 'recognize' the lens in first two, has that 'look' to it just as mine does. How you think the auto-focus of the 2 measure up? For this series of shots the AF seems the same---Charliezap Originally posted by icywarm These are 'pretty easy' shots.... you might start noticing a difference with things like Black birds vs cloud sky and the DA goes to 55 vs 70... which I would think is mildly wider. Do they have the same Ap? Try testing them across a dimmer room like a hockey rink. I find any lens, under good conditions, will give ok results... push them a little... that's when you test their mustard. Later today I may take some shots of my bird feeders from 20ft distance and check out the IQ of the shots.I always thought that the Quantaray was a decent lens.Maybe I'm expecting way to much improvement from the DA lens.--charliezap

08-31-2010, 05:07 AM	#5
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	hey charlie... hang in there.. as others will note... once you push the limits of the 55-300mm, you'll see improved results over the q70-300mm lens.... you'll get less purple fringing, and for me, sharper shots and also, pentax colors. i had the tammy 70-300mm lens a while ago... and in a less than scientific comparison.... the pentax lens was superior.... check out the reviews in our forum for the pentax lens... i've found shooting longer distance shots 200-300mm at f8, gave me sharper pics..... i always thought the q70-300mm tech 10 was a good lens, and it's not bad... but the pentax will yield better colors and sharper shots, with fewer fringing in high contrast shots.... keep pluggin' away.... dave m

08-31-2010, 01:19 PM	#6
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686 Original Poster	Originally posted by dcmsox2004 hey charlie... hang in there.. as others will note... once you push the limits of the 55-300mm, you'll see improved results over the q70-300mm lens.... you'll get less purple fringing, and for me, sharper shots and also, pentax colors. i had the tammy 70-300mm lens a while ago... and in a less than scientific comparison.... the pentax lens was superior.... check out the reviews in our forum for the pentax lens... i've found shooting longer distance shots 200-300mm at f8, gave me sharper pics..... i always thought the q70-300mm tech 10 was a good lens, and it's not bad... but the pentax will yield better colors and sharper shots, with fewer fringing in high contrast shots.... keep pluggin' away.... dave m Thanks Dave--I'm going to shoot some comparison pics at f/4 and see what happens--charliezap