...then I can highly recommend it. I've had mine about two months now, and have been very impressed with the IQ. The lens has hardly left my camera since I got it, and it works well for more than wildlife -- architecture, nature shots, Thanks to all here who have encouraged me by posting their 55-300mm photos.

Enough talk. Some shots, most of them just about straight from the camera with no more than curves and levels adjustments, with cropping and resizing:

Calling Jay




Mallard Sunning on a Cold Morning




On the Alert




Lone Goose in the Snow




Rooms to Let




Patient Porcupine




Silky Flow




Droplets




Water Tower




Spiky Spires




Late Season Snowstorm




Wild Chipmunk

[Rupert]

Nice shooting! I see shots from that lens all over the internet, and it always impresses me. I keep thinking that it has to be the best lens value in the world....would anyone disagree with that? Just great IQ at a very reasonable price.
Best Regards!

[eaglem]

Very nice indeed Tamia.

[slowpez]

Nice shots Tamia. That is my favorite lens also and I agree about the IQ. The silky water shot is stunning by the way and I can't believe you managed to get a pic of a porcupine. I have only seen one in the wild and that was so brief I couldn't swear to it. The chipmunk is also amazing as they are not as cooperative as Otis is. Lovely shots.

[Tamia]

Nice shooting! I see shots from that lens all over the internet, and it always impresses me. I keep thinking that it has to be the best lens value in the world....would anyone disagree with that? Just great IQ at a very reasonable price.
Best Regards!

Thanks much, Rupert. I agree on the value of this lens. It's GREAT value for money. With my K200d it is a bit difficult to get sharp noise-free photos in dim light, such as on rainy days, but this is just a good excuse to finally spring for a camera with better high-ISO capability than the K200D can manage, despite its other enormous virtues.

Very nice indeed Tamia.

Thanks, EM. Much appreciated!

Nice shots Tamia. That is my favorite lens also and I agree about the IQ. The silky water shot is stunning by the way and I can't believe you managed to get a pic of a porcupine. I have only seen one in the wild and that was so brief I couldn't swear to it. The chipmunk is also amazing as they are not as cooperative as Otis is. Lovely shots.

Thank you, Susan. The photo of the porcupine was pure luck. I knew he lived in the woods where I was climbing a very steep slope. I'd seen his tracks in the snow a lot this winter. I had stopped to take a breather, and for some reason turned to look to my left. There he was, about 15 yards away, watching me. I took a few photos, and he waited until I was done, then turned and ambled away.

The chipmunk, Jack, is a frequent visitor to my bird feeding stump, but he is usually not so cooperative. He was annoyed that another chipmunk was approaching, so he's wide-eyed and waiting to pounce, which he did the instant after my shutter released. Getting clear photos of chips is hard, but I did luck out on a hike yesterday where I saw a wild chipmunk watching me. I added his photo above, Wild Chipmunk, photographed at 300mm.

[Bob Harris]

Tamia, all beautifully photographed, I can see why everyone likes the lens. Your skills along with the lens are a great combination. thanks for sharing. Bob

[thorwb]

is it the DA or the DA L version?

[bdery]

Strangely, my favourite is "Rooms to Let". Well composed, nice textures and colours.

The bokeh on the jay shot and some others is quite busy, apart from that it's a fine lens indeed!

[Sailor]

Gee, Tamia, I almost missed this post, and I'm sure glad I didn't - these shots are outstanding. I wish I could handle my 55-300 as well as you can shoot with yours.

Jer

[normhead]

Those are all great shots... they all look like they are taken in our back woods.. are you hiding out back there somewhere?

[Tamia]

Tamia, all beautifully photographed, I can see why everyone likes the lens. Your skills along with the lens are a great combination. thanks for sharing. Bob

Thanks very much, Bob. I have a LOT more culls than keepers!

is it the DA or the DA L version?

This is the DA version.

Strangely, my favourite is "Rooms to Let". Well composed, nice textures and colours.

The bokeh on the jay shot and some others is quite busy, apart from that it's a fine lens indeed!

I really like Rooms to Let, too. The bokeh can be very pleasing with this lens, but in cluttered surroundings (the woods), it would take some cloning to remove some of the background.

Gee, Tamia, I almost missed this post, and I'm sure glad I didn't - these shots are outstanding. I wish I could handle my 55-300 as well as you can shoot with yours.

Jer

Thanks, Jer, very much appreciated. As I mentioned above, I have far far more culls than keepers, and I've been learning this lens by carrying it everywhere (I have the sore neck to prove it). The extra reach of this lens over the also acceptable Pentax 50-200mm DA truly makes a big difference, and I'm looking forward to returning songbirds to really put this lens to the test.

[BlueBubbleBoy]

You've got some great results from this lens Tamia. I like it too, but I've got a ways to go to catch up to you.
My favorite is silky flow. Love the slow shutter and the composition. Beautiful.

[Elva]

Beautiful images with super colours

[nosliwmit]

I agree Tamia. I too have a K200D and a 55-300mm f4. That lens focuses very quickly and very accurately, and as a consequence I tend to get sharper photos from it than I do from my 35mm f2.8 limited...

[charliezap]

Hi Tamia--The lens is very nice for the price and does a good job as your pictures show.I should use mine more.My all purpose lens is the 18-250 Pentax which doesn't do that bad for a "walking around lens"--charliezap