HD Pentax 55-300mm WR Officially Announced

Adam · 10-07-2013, 03:00 PM

Pentax have finally decided to add weather-sealing to their 55-300mm telephoto zoom lens; this new version will also feature the new HD-coating for improved reflectance.

Homepage announcement: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Lens Announced - Pentax News - PentaxForums.com
Full specifications: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
Pre-order: Pentax HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR Lens B&H Photo Video

HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Lens Announced - Pentax News - PentaxForums.com

Adam
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seventysixersfan · 10-07-2013, 03:05 PM

other than the red ring, I like the look of it-- a lot like the DA 18-135 design.

camerons · 10-07-2013, 04:10 PM

Excellent. I've been waiting for this. The newer coating is a bonus.

**filoxophy** · 10-07-2013, 04:28 PM

Price only went up $50 for HD and WR. Makes the 55-300 back to being fairly priced, IMHO, after the previous huge price hikes with no improvements.

Quicksand · 10-07-2013, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by filoxophy

Price only went up $50 for HD and WR. Makes the 55-300 back to being fairly priced, IMHO, after the previous huge price hikes with no improvements.

Wow, yeah, I am surprisingly unoffended by that price!

Adam · 10-08-2013, 10:35 AM

Fully how little attention this lens is getting in the wake of the K-3. Ricoh should have launched it 2 weeks later!

Zygonyx · 10-08-2013, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by Adam

Fully how little attention this lens is getting in the wake of the K-3. Ricoh should have launched it 2 weeks later!

Or rather two weeks earlier

Personnaly i will not buy this lens, story would have been different if it was DC.

Whatever the challenge to make it DC, screwdrive is just irrelevant when Ricoh puts the turbo with video capabilities of the K-3 !

Gray · 10-08-2013, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by filoxophy

Price only went up $50 for HD and WR. Makes the 55-300 back to being fairly priced, IMHO, after the previous huge price hikes with no improvements.

It's $100 more than the smc DA 55-300 was in March last year - a 29% increase. The smc DA is a very decent lens, but noisy - characteristics that'll pass to the HD version no doubt.

Adam · 10-08-2013, 11:21 AM

Originally posted by Gray

It's $100 more than the smc DA 55-300 was in March last year - a 29% increase. The smc DA is a very decent lens, but noisy - characteristics that'll pass to the HD version no doubt.

I agree that this lens is greatly in need of a DC/SDM motor...

JinDesu · 10-08-2013, 11:28 AM

I'm getting this next year with the k-3. Partly because I don't think I can afford the k-3 with a DA*60-250, and partly because my Tamron 70-200 is heavy enough.

bdery · 10-08-2013, 11:31 AM

If it had existed when I bought my 60-250, I might have considered it. Probably still would have bought the 60-250, but it would have been more interesting for sure.

Traditional · 10-08-2013, 04:00 PM

Why use a red ribbon around the lens? The color red is used already by Canon on their lenses. Is the reason for this deviation from the green on the lenses, that the logo for Ricoh is in red, and that the Pentax cameras soon will be called "Ricoh", and that Ricoh wants red on every of it's products?
Pentax is the only brand in the market that has a pleasant green color band on many of its lenses, why not continue the nice tradition?
Why not start using the rather unique and pretty pleasant color green more pronounced as corporate color for Ricoh Imaging Company?

elpolodiablo · 10-08-2013, 04:03 PM - **1 Like**

Red = HD coating
Green = SMC coating

Had been the case for the HD DA Limiteds, HD 560MM and that HD 645D lens(45mm?)

elpolodiablo · 10-08-2013, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Fully how little attention this lens is getting in the wake of the K-3. Ricoh should have launched it 2 weeks later!

Well it might not get a lot of people talking, but I can see it being bought by a lot of people, I had the DA 55-300 and optically it's wonderful for the price, I have since moved on to constant f2.8 70-200 but I have fond memories of the DA 55-300 (70-200 f2.8 = big and heavy and expensive, no way around it...)

Now, would they be making HD and WR version of the DA 16-45 f4 and DA 12-24 f4 in due time? That would give them a complete range of mid tie WR zoom lenses. That way they can keep SMC DA 18-55WR and SMC DA50-200WR to go with the K-50 for the budget WR market, and kit the HD DA 16-45 f4 WR and HD DA 55-300 WR with higher tier models for enthusiast ?

Adam · 10-08-2013, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by elpolodiablo

Well it might not get a lot of people talking, but I can see it being bought by a lot of people, I had the DA 55-300 and optically it's wonderful for the price, I have since moved on to constant f2.8 70-200 but I have fond memories of the DA 55-300 (70-200 f2.8 = big and heavy and expensive, no way around it...)

Now, would they be making HD and WR version of the DA 16-45 f4 and DA 12-24 f4 in due time? That would give them a complete range of mid tie WR zoom lenses. That way they can keep SMC DA 18-55WR and SMC DA50-200WR to go with the K-50 for the budget WR market, and kit the HD DA 16-45 f4 WR and HD DA 55-300 WR with higher tier models for enthusiast ?

The 18-55mm lens needs SDM- IMO Pentax needs to make that their #1 priority.

10-08-2013, 10:35 AM	#6
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594 Original Poster	Fully how little attention this lens is getting in the wake of the K-3. Ricoh should have launched it 2 weeks later! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

10-08-2013, 11:21 AM	#9
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594 Original Poster	Originally posted by Gray It's $100 more than the smc DA 55-300 was in March last year - a 29% increase. The smc DA is a very decent lens, but noisy - characteristics that'll pass to the HD version no doubt. I agree that this lens is greatly in need of a DC/SDM motor... Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

10-08-2013, 04:00 PM	#12
Traditional Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 57	Why use a red ribbon around the lens? The color red is used already by Canon on their lenses. Is the reason for this deviation from the green on the lenses, that the logo for Ricoh is in red, and that the Pentax cameras soon will be called "Ricoh", and that Ricoh wants red on every of it's products? Pentax is the only brand in the market that has a pleasant green color band on many of its lenses, why not continue the nice tradition? Why not start using the rather unique and pretty pleasant color green more pronounced as corporate color for Ricoh Imaging Company? Last edited by Traditional; 10-09-2013 at 01:58 AM.

10-08-2013, 05:21 PM	#15
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594 Original Poster	Originally posted by elpolodiablo Well it might not get a lot of people talking, but I can see it being bought by a lot of people, I had the DA 55-300 and optically it's wonderful for the price, I have since moved on to constant f2.8 70-200 but I have fond memories of the DA 55-300 (70-200 f2.8 = big and heavy and expensive, no way around it...) Now, would they be making HD and WR version of the DA 16-45 f4 and DA 12-24 f4 in due time? That would give them a complete range of mid tie WR zoom lenses. That way they can keep SMC DA 18-55WR and SMC DA50-200WR to go with the K-50 for the budget WR market, and kit the HD DA 16-45 f4 WR and HD DA 55-300 WR with higher tier models for enthusiast ? The 18-55mm lens needs SDM- IMO Pentax needs to make that their #1 priority. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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10-07-2013, 03:00 PM	#1
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	HD Pentax 55-300mm WR Officially Announced Pentax have finally decided to add weather-sealing to their 55-300mm telephoto zoom lens; this new version will also feature the new HD-coating for improved reflectance. Homepage announcement: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Lens Announced - Pentax News - PentaxForums.com Full specifications: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Pre-order: Pentax HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR Lens B&H Photo Video HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Lens Announced - Pentax News - PentaxForums.com Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

10-07-2013, 03:05 PM	#2
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	other than the red ring, I like the look of it-- a lot like the DA 18-135 design.

10-07-2013, 04:10 PM	#3
camerons Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Brisbane, Queensland Posts: 243	Excellent. I've been waiting for this. The newer coating is a bonus.

10-07-2013, 04:28 PM	#4
filoxophy Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 1,132	Price only went up $50 for HD and WR. Makes the 55-300 back to being fairly priced, IMHO, after the previous huge price hikes with no improvements.

10-07-2013, 04:33 PM	#5
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	Originally posted by filoxophy Price only went up $50 for HD and WR. Makes the 55-300 back to being fairly priced, IMHO, after the previous huge price hikes with no improvements. Wow, yeah, I am surprisingly unoffended by that price!

10-08-2013, 10:45 AM	#7
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,033	Originally posted by Adam Fully how little attention this lens is getting in the wake of the K-3. Ricoh should have launched it 2 weeks later! Or rather two weeks earlier Personnaly i will not buy this lens, story would have been different if it was DC. Whatever the challenge to make it DC, screwdrive is just irrelevant when Ricoh puts the turbo with video capabilities of the K-3 !

10-08-2013, 11:18 AM	#8
Gray Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cape Town Photos: Gallery Posts: 536	Originally posted by filoxophy Price only went up $50 for HD and WR. Makes the 55-300 back to being fairly priced, IMHO, after the previous huge price hikes with no improvements. It's $100 more than the smc DA 55-300 was in March last year - a 29% increase. The smc DA is a very decent lens, but noisy - characteristics that'll pass to the HD version no doubt.

10-08-2013, 11:28 AM	#10
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	I'm getting this next year with the k-3. Partly because I don't think I can afford the k-3 with a DA*60-250, and partly because my Tamron 70-200 is heavy enough.

10-08-2013, 11:31 AM	#11
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	If it had existed when I bought my 60-250, I might have considered it. Probably still would have bought the 60-250, but it would have been more interesting for sure.

10-08-2013, 04:03 PM - 1 Like	#13
elpolodiablo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,637	Red = HD coating Green = SMC coating Had been the case for the HD DA Limiteds, HD 560MM and that HD 645D lens(45mm?)

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10-08-2013, 04:17 PM	#14
elpolodiablo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,637	Originally posted by Adam Fully how little attention this lens is getting in the wake of the K-3. Ricoh should have launched it 2 weeks later! Well it might not get a lot of people talking, but I can see it being bought by a lot of people, I had the DA 55-300 and optically it's wonderful for the price, I have since moved on to constant f2.8 70-200 but I have fond memories of the DA 55-300 (70-200 f2.8 = big and heavy and expensive, no way around it...) Now, would they be making HD and WR version of the DA 16-45 f4 and DA 12-24 f4 in due time? That would give them a complete range of mid tie WR zoom lenses. That way they can keep SMC DA 18-55WR and SMC DA50-200WR to go with the K-50 for the budget WR market, and kit the HD DA 16-45 f4 WR and HD DA 55-300 WR with higher tier models for enthusiast ?