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pbskarpy · 04-01-2018, 06:08 AM - **1 Like**

Hi. This is my first post on this forum. I'm from Poland. Please excuse me for my written language, it's not perfect

I have K3II, DA 50 F1,8 and kit 18-55. Last month I bought Sigma 10-20 3.5 (I didn't use it much yet). I usually shoot landscapes, mainly in mountains. My best photos are made with kit 18-55

Than I tried to use 50/f1.8 for panoramas and smaller parts of landscape. and i have to say I'm happy with this lens. Now I have focal lenght from 10 mm to 55mm. I thought to myself that I would like to have something longer because I love narrower landscape photos.

I would like to spend about 420 pounds/480 euros/ 580 dollars for my new lens. I'm practically sure to buy Pentax HD DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE because I need zoom. But I need a little help from you. Do you know any lenses that could compare with this one in this price range?

**UncleVanya** · 04-01-2018, 06:34 AM

There are several versions of the 55-300 Pentax lens. The one you selected is nice but focus can be slow. The PLM version is much faster focusing and quiet. However the PLM version is optically less slight transmitting, with a slightly smaller aperture opening.

EDIT: I misread the original post. The plm lens is fast to focus and has nice optics.

Kozlok · 04-01-2018, 08:02 AM

Uncle Vanya, it looks like he did choose the PLM version.

You may need a firmware update on your K3 for the PLM to work.

Optically the various 55-300 are good but not as good as much more expensive lenses, but that’s not surprising. It should out-perform your 18-55.

In that price range, that is the very best choice.

pbskarpy · 04-01-2018, 08:04 AM

I use tripod so asuper fast focusing is not very important I think.

**Kerrowdown** · 04-01-2018, 08:24 AM

Welcome aboard, enjoy it all here.

**savoche** · 04-01-2018, 09:01 AM

Welcome to the club house!

Originally posted by pbskarpy

I use tripod so asuper fast focusing is not very important I think.

I think any of the 55-300 versions will do well. I'm very happy with the optical quality of my old SMC DA 55-300. It can be a bit slow focusing (and noisy) for wildlife shooting, but as you say, that's not a problem in landscape photography. I'd go for the one with the lowest price. Quick shift and WR might be nice, though.

A quick summary from memory, should be taken with a grain of salt

SMC DA L: no WR, no quick shift focus
SMC DA: no WR, but has quick shift
HD DA: WR, new lens coating, quick shift
HD DA PLM: WR, new lens coating, quick shift, fast and silent focus motor, slightly less light transmission (4.5-6.3 vs 4-5.8 for the older ones)

pbskarpy · 04-01-2018, 09:46 AM

Thank You very much. What about other brands? And manuals? Is there any reason to choose manual over auto according to image quality?

Unregistered User 8 · 04-01-2018, 02:44 PM

Hi from Australia, and welcome to the Pentax forums. Good to have you here.

Tbone51 · 04-01-2018, 03:42 PM

Sokol Polski!
Welcome!

C_Jones · 04-01-2018, 07:11 PM

Welcome to the forums.

04-01-2018, 06:08 AM - 1 Like	#1
pbskarpy New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3	new Hi. This is my first post on this forum. I'm from Poland. Please excuse me for my written language, it's not perfect I have K3II, DA 50 F1,8 and kit 18-55. Last month I bought Sigma 10-20 3.5 (I didn't use it much yet). I usually shoot landscapes, mainly in mountains. My best photos are made with kit 18-55 Than I tried to use 50/f1.8 for panoramas and smaller parts of landscape. and i have to say I'm happy with this lens. Now I have focal lenght from 10 mm to 55mm. I thought to myself that I would like to have something longer because I love narrower landscape photos. I would like to spend about 420 pounds/480 euros/ 580 dollars for my new lens. I'm practically sure to buy Pentax HD DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE because I need zoom. But I need a little help from you. Do you know any lenses that could compare with this one in this price range?

04-01-2018, 06:34 AM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,467	There are several versions of the 55-300 Pentax lens. The one you selected is nice but focus can be slow. The PLM version is much faster focusing and quiet. However the PLM version is optically less slight transmitting, with a slightly smaller aperture opening. EDIT: I misread the original post. The plm lens is fast to focus and has nice optics. Last edited by UncleVanya; 04-02-2018 at 05:49 AM.

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04-01-2018, 08:02 AM	#3
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	Uncle Vanya, it looks like he did choose the PLM version. You may need a firmware update on your K3 for the PLM to work. Optically the various 55-300 are good but not as good as much more expensive lenses, but that’s not surprising. It should out-perform your 18-55. In that price range, that is the very best choice.

04-01-2018, 08:04 AM	#4
pbskarpy New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3 Original Poster	I use tripod so asuper fast focusing is not very important I think.

04-01-2018, 08:24 AM	#5
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,866	Welcome aboard, enjoy it all here.

04-01-2018, 09:01 AM	#6
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Welcome to the club house! Originally posted by pbskarpy I use tripod so asuper fast focusing is not very important I think. I think any of the 55-300 versions will do well. I'm very happy with the optical quality of my old SMC DA 55-300. It can be a bit slow focusing (and noisy) for wildlife shooting, but as you say, that's not a problem in landscape photography. I'd go for the one with the lowest price. Quick shift and WR might be nice, though. A quick summary from memory, should be taken with a grain of salt SMC DA L: no WR, no quick shift focus SMC DA: no WR, but has quick shift HD DA: WR, new lens coating, quick shift HD DA PLM: WR, new lens coating, quick shift, fast and silent focus motor, slightly less light transmission (4.5-6.3 vs 4-5.8 for the older ones)

04-01-2018, 09:46 AM	#7
pbskarpy New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3 Original Poster	Thank You very much. What about other brands? And manuals? Is there any reason to choose manual over auto according to image quality?

04-01-2018, 02:44 PM	#8
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Hi from Australia, and welcome to the Pentax forums. Good to have you here.

04-01-2018, 03:42 PM	#9
Tbone51 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 120	Sokol Polski! Welcome!

04-01-2018, 07:11 PM	#10
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,086	Welcome to the forums.