| Author: | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2014 Posts: 4
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 30, 2014 | Not Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Lightweigth, sharp in sunny condition, good price | | Cons: | not for the rainy days, slow autofocus, loss of sharpness at the tele end | | Sharpness: 5
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-30
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Before purchasing this lens, I tested it on a weekend. I thought this lens could be a replacement for my 18-135 WR on the tele end. An everyday lens for hiking and days in the nature.
I am very satisfied with the 18-135 but I want more zoom 
Maybe I was wrong. Here are the facts: (this is a usability review, not a professional one)
The lens is a lightweight and eays to use. The "wheels" are easy to handle and you can take pictures without a tripod.
My first impression while shooting was a bad one: what a loud and slow autofocus. This is a fact I can handle with, but the birds fly away, when they hear the focus .
The first day was a dark day and I was very sad about the pictures I made:
 55mm
  
55mm - 55mm - 300mm
As you recognize there is a loss of sharpness on the 300mm pic. At all these pictures are too bad for me.
At the next day, it was sunny.
Church
  
150mm - 210mm - 300mm
Bird table
  
170mm- 210mm - 300mm
Surprise. These pictures are much better. But you will again see the loss of of sharpness and even focus in the 300mm pictures.
Garden (nearly perfect condition - the lawn and the light)
   
55mm - 78mm - 135mm - 300mm
Wow, look at the 300mm picture. This is the first sharp and acceptable shoot with this lense.
Here are some pictures to compare:
  
18-135WR 18mm - SMC A 1.7/50mm - 18-135 at 135mm
So, what is my opinion about the 55-300.
This is definitely a "good weather" lens, much more than my 18-135 is. You can make sharp 300mm pictures, but there has to be the right light.
Handling is easy, it is lightweighted and not too long, it comes with a bag.
At all it is not the travel and hiking zoom I need. The pictures at the 300mm tele end are bad, although the quality rises fast and from 200mm you will have some good pictures.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 129 | | Review Date: November 27, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | light, price | | Cons: | Slow AF, not very sharp | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Autofocus: 2
Handling: 7
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k5
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Nice cheap zoom but beware that Autofocus can be slow and hunt.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 7
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 21, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Image quality, Handling, Price | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 5
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: k30
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Great value lens. Pentax cameras generally have good ergonomics and this lens just feel great on the camera with its lightness and big grippy zoom ring. One small gripe is that the focus ring is a bit out of the way and with the hood in storage position you can't actually get to it at the wide end, making quick shift inaccessible for quick grab shots.
I find the image quality is decent throughout the range good sharpness for a super zoom with nice rendition. The Autofocus does hunt a bit in low light. On the older DSLRs the slowness is a real problem but with the improving ISO performance, you can get good resolution at 800+, and actually the 5.8 becomes 5.6 from 270mm.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: England Posts: 9
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 22, 2014 | Not Recommended | Price: $475.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | Light weight, good reach | | Cons: | Sharpness, slow AF, noisy AF, poor lens hood design | | Sharpness: 4
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 2
Handling: 6
Value: 5
New or Used: New
Camera Used: *ist D, K5IIs, K3
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I bought this lens, new, around December 2012, instead of the DA 50-200mm that I went to the shop to buy, after the guy in the shop advised me that this lens was sharper throughout the range.
I have used this lens as my walk around lens for over a year (with an F 28mm f2.8 on the *ist D for shots where the 55-300mm is just too telephoto) and have finally decided enough is enough.
The shots I have taken with the 55-300mm are not sharp by any measure, noticeably less sharp than the DA 50-200mm at any focal length (which I bought about 3 months later when I realised the guy in the shop had led me up the garden path), with a less pleasant bokeh. I have also taken to leaving the lens hood at home, as it falls off whenever touched. It often focuses right past the correct point, out to infinity, focuses back to "zero" and then out to the correct point, taking 4-5 seconds to do so. This is true on all three digital body types (I have two *ist D's, and borrowed another K5 for a recent photo shoot) I have tried it on, so do not think it is the camera, but the lens.
Others have tempered their reviews by pointing out that this is a consumer lens, not a professional one. But given that Pentax do not produce a comparable "pro" lens, with the nearest thing, the DA* 60-250 being shorter at both ends of the focal range - the cut-off at 250mm instead of 300mm being particularly limiting - there really isn't any justification for this.
If there was such a thing as a DA 60-300 [IF] for around $900-1000 then I would buy it, but as the DA 55-300 is currently hovering around $450 and the DA* 60-250 is around $1450, there is a lot of space between the two for Ricoh/Pentax to produce a "prosumer" lens with a 5:1 (or better) zoom range.
A recent contract completion gave me some cash in the bank so the DA* 300mm has joined my burgeoning collection - I found one for $950 boxed and sealed - and am now starting the process of clearing out my cupboards of old glass (F, FA, DA L, DA, etc.) to make way for more FA*/DA* lenses, as I now realise the sharpness I have been craving since my film-only days can only be achieved through lenses with a star in the title.
My recommendation to anyone with a Pentax DSLR would be to buy fewer lenses, but make them good ones.
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: September, 2014 Posts: 34 | | Review Date: September 29, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Light weight, sharp, telemacro, quick shift | | Cons: | loud, focus can hunt, not weather sealed | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K30
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The reviews of this lens were one of the big things that convinced me to go Pentax. The lens is plenty sharp for its price range, and light enough to shoot one handed. This is the lens I've got on my camera more than any other because its range is so versatile. Its great for walking around the park because you can get everything from distant animals to right up close insects. For example, the FA*300 cannot focus anywhere near as closely as this lens can.
While it's true this lens hunts, the quick shift makes this problem much more manageable, especially if your subject is at infinity.
Overall, if I ever got a mirrorless camera, I'd probably adapt this lens to it because it is so useful, even if I'd lose autofocus and auto aperture.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Moscow Posts: 13
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 2, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size/weight, contrast, IQ (yes!), 190/f4.5, sharp | | Cons: | Noisy AF, quality varies from piece to piece, odd bokeh | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-30
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I bought this lens as compact tele-zoom to extend my 70-210 Tokina. It allows 190/4.5 and 260/5.6. It's quite good for cheap lens.
You should purchase this lens carefully with testing - some pieces are good, some are not. My ticket was lucky.
I was surprised by sharpness and contrast, using the lens as tele-portrait. But don't expect great bokeh - it's absolutely boring, even if you'll compare it with DA 50-200.
The AF lifehack for this lens: if you want to speed up your AF, don't use it longer than 260mm. It will give you /f5.6, and AF speed will really improve.
However, it's noisy and I'm always afraid, it will self-destruct. But you have no other options for cheap tele-zooms. I tried Tokina 70-210 and 75-300, some Sigmas 75-300 and Tamron. No other choice. Nothing compares with this one - if you are lucky.
My other shots by this lens | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2013 Location: Barcelona Posts: 659
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 11, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Focus Range, | | Cons: | Focus, maybe not that bright | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Kr
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I bought this zoom lens 3 years ago and still love it. It was in my first trip with my old K110D, and I must say I had no idea about zooms. I was looking for a 300mm as my goal was to use it in race tracks, and outdoors to take pictures of race cars. Once in NYC we've found that shop and well, I ended up buying it.
Today I must admit most of my best pictures have been done with that lens, as most of my pictures are about Rally, MotoGP, F1, or some other motorsports, and I might say the lens has impressed me because it even has bokeh! Yes it does! It's such a surprise for me finding that in a 55-300mm lens.
It is nice to use, but sometimes it is slow focusing, in low lights you won't do much, and it is not super bright; i would like it to be f2.8 or even f4 constant, but well.... you can't ask for everything.
It is a great lens to use during day light to shoot at vehicles, even at night if there is some light, of course if it's total dark and you depend on the car lights, you'll suffer, as it lost focus with them; you might need the help of a flash light.
Anyway, if you find it at a good price, I'd say you won't be dissapointed.
Here you can see some examples of what you can do with that lens:
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2013 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 2,444
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 4, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $285.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharpness (for a consumer zoom), Weight, Price | | Cons: | Noisy and Slow AF, MFD | |
I found it a really nice consumer long zoom. it's range is very good going from 55mm up to 300mm and the size is just fine.
It produces some nice colors at times that the light is perfect, but other times I had to bump up vibrance in LR which I'm OK with it, and know that RAW files should need it. meaning if it doesn't need the lens is superb, which is the case with limiteds.
in terms of sharpness, it produces sharp photos around f/8 and f/11 but it is really good at f/6.7 and even wide open, it's really good.
If I'm going to list cons of this lens, I should say, it's slow (f/5.6 from 200mm to 300mm), but it's a consumer zoom! you shouldn't expect faster, correct?
Also it's auto focus is really slow, comparing to my F70-210mm which is harsh and fast.
and the Minimum focus distance is a little bit long for wider FL's (55mm-150mm)
It's great for what it is.
| | | | | Marketplace Reseller Registered: March, 2010 Location: Queensland Posts: 104 | | Review Date: June 8, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Good for a budget | | Cons: | Not sharp enough for me | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 5
Handling: 8
Value: 7
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K10
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Good lens for a person on a budget.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: san francisco bay area Posts: 28 | | Review Date: March 22, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp , Portable, Range, Manual Focus Override | | Cons: | Loud Autofocus, Bokeh, Loose Focus Ring | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K30
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My quick take. The lens is light, small with great range. It is very well made with two exceptions; the cheap thin hood and the loose focus ring. Some purple fringing and aberrations, but not a big deal. Focus can be fast, but sometimes it can go through the whole range causing you to miss moving objects like birds ( oh if only it had a shorter focus throw and a DC motor!). Manual focus is fine despite the loose ring. Manual override after focus lock is a great feature. Pretty sharp in the center, but not sharp edge to edge unless sopped down. It is fast up to 200 so that is a huge plus. However, optically the most outstanding feature is that it is very sharp at 300mm. Just go to DXOMark and look at the sharpness especially the field map at 300 on a K50, K5IIs or K3! Holy smokes! I lost mine on a trip (dang-it), so I just got a used DAL to replace it. I am saving up for the new big zoom, but I still need this little guy for zoo, hikes, ballparks or the like. Just get it or a used DAL or the new WR they are all impressive.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2011 Location: Niagara, Ontario Posts: 57 | | Review Date: January 26, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, good contrast and color | | Cons: | Noisy and slow AF on my K10D | |
Produces very good quality images on my K10D and is fine as a low weight walk-around lens when hiking or shooting city views, etc. I do not recommend it's use for bird photography due to the noisy AF motor when zooming in and out and relatively slow AF, but for the price a bargain. Pentax/Ricoh should, in my opinion, negate these shortcomings by upgrading and introducing a new lens with the improvements noted above at an attractive price. | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 12
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 27, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Cheap, compact, easy handling | | Cons: | Hood slosh, good 300mm IQ only at F8 | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K20D, K-7, K-5, K-5IIs
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I used this lens mostly for wildlife and quite rarely for portraits and landscapes. The lens is relatively cheap and is probably most compact 300mm lens I ever seen. Sharpness is not perfect but it worth lens price, especially when compared to old Pentax zooms like 100-300 and 80-320. My sample bought as new had some hood slosh. Second sample that I reviewed at shop had much worse CA than mine. I found really good IQ for 300mm but only at F8. Actually the rule of F8 applies to whole 55-300mm range but I do not follow it when shooting people portraits. Overall contrast is high enough, color rendition is accurate and nice.
Highly recommended to go with Pentax one if you are still thinking on cheap 70-300 lenses from Tamron or Sigma
P.S. My next step for better IQ@300mm is Sigma APO 100-300/4 DG EX. Below are some my best photos made with this lens.
Classic wild life shot. Pentax K-5, 230mm, F8, ISO250, 1/320.
Some rare portrait. Pentax K-5, 55mm, F8, ISO5000, 1/1000.
Almost macro. Pentax K-5, 300mm, F8, ISO3200, 1/400.
Strange panoramic landscape. 10 vertical shots, each: Pentax K-5, 135mm, F8, 1/200, ISO200.
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 151
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 28, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | zoom range, colors | | Cons: | auto focus | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 3
Handling: 8
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: k30, kx
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I bought this lens along with K-X used. With my k-x this was an OK lens.. i tried to get rid of it many times. Basically because, it was very difficult to focus and at longest reach it was soft. But, then swapped my k-x with k-30. With better iso management, i am starting to love this lens. Still, the AF issue is there, but i am loving the colors and it is a breeze to take candid shots of people. Planning to sell mine and take a HD counterpart 
overall.. it is an affordable zoom for every pentaxian.. win-win
one of my best shots with this lens
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27020563@N06/10955649653/ | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Cirebon Posts: 29 | | Review Date: November 17, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $470.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Lightweight, Build Quality, Sharpness, Colors. | | Cons: | Slow and loud autofocus | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 4
Handling: 8
Value: 8
New or Used: New
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+ Usefull range
+ Nice colors rendering
+ Wide open sharpness at 300mm
- Loud and slow AF (Better if put DC motor on this lens)
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,064
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $329.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great shots thru entire range. lightweight | | Cons: | Hunts a bit much | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K30
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Everything positive said about the lens is true! A strong improvement on the 50-200 kit lens reach and definitely worth the extra bucks.
I just took 40 shots (and on a cloudy day) with it but enough to show how good this lens really is. Easy to take good shots at 55mm
with decent bokeh. Its true worth is in the reach of the lens. I never appreciated the value of a good zoom until
I got my hands on this exceptional offering from Pentax. With the K30, the new Da35mm AL little gem, and now this
really fine zoom, I see that Pentax has reached a new pinnacle of quality and value, with the addition of this DA 55-300 zoom in the lineup.. Of course, the increased range of the ISO of the K30 camera goes a long way to making great shots almost a sure thing.
I'm 74 years old and I hope I live a bunch more years to enjoy this wonderful array of photographic tools. Add to this my DA16-45 and
I am really set for a long time. i also have the exceptional Sigma 50mm EX macro lens for when I want above average bokeh macros.
Glad I got the Da model zoom, with its metal mount . The lens also came with a really nice protective pouch and a good quality hood.
The lens has a very nice feel and good handling. Thank you, Pentax, for making my dreams come true! Freddy
P.S. I didn't mention the fact that hand held long shots can produce a lot of keepers, no doubt due to the high ISO's I'm getting.
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