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SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED

Sharpness 
 8.3
Aberrations 
 8.0
Bokeh 
 7.8
Autofocus 
 6.8
Handling 
 8.6
Value 
 9.2
Reviews Views Date of last review
119 526,077 Thu March 30, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
96% of reviewers $313.04 8.53
SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED

SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED
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SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED
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Description:
The Pentax DA 55-300mm telephoto zoom lens was released in 2008 and retired in 2013 in favor of a WR variant.

SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
APS-C
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
No
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
12 elements, 8 groups
Mount Variant
KAF
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F4-5.8
Min. Aperture
F22-32
Focusing
AF (screwdrive)
Quick-shift
Yes
Min. Focus
140 cm
Max. Magnification
0.28x
Filter Size
58 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 29-5.4 ° / 25-4.6 °
Hood
PH-RBG 58 mm
Case
S80-160
Lens Cap
O-LC58
Coating
SMC,SP
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
71 x 111.5 mm (2.8 x 4.4 in.)
Weight
440 g (15.5 oz.)
Production Years
2008 to 2013
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-DA 1:4-5.8 55-300mm ED
Product Code
21727
Reviews
User reviews
In-depth review
Unofficial Full-Frame Compatibility Tests by Pentax Forums
★★☆ Full coverage at some F-stop and focal length combinations
Show details
Notes
Two ED elements.
Features:
Screwdrive AutofocusQuick ShiftAutomatic ApertureAPS-C Digital OnlyDiscontinued
Purchase: Buy the SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED
In-Depth Review: Read our SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED in-depth review!
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price History:



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Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 106-119 of 119
Veteran Member

Registered: February, 2009
Location: egypt
Posts: 435
Review Date: March 4, 2009 Recommended | Price: $300.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: light.value for money
Cons: not sharp enough

after a week looking for a lens for birding doesnt cost me mor than 350$i decided to get 55/300.its light,sharp in range 55-200,its good for longshot but not the one for birding
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2007
Location: Newcastle Australia
Posts: 5,284

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 3, 2009 Recommended | Price: $399.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Sharp throughout, lightweight, good price.
Cons: noise, sometimes slow AF
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 7    Handling: 8    Value: 9    New or Used: New   

I would recommend this lens to any interested buyer, mainly for its price and compact lightweight build.

Having used it for sometime, I have found it to produce good sharp results with little fuss. As above, it can be a bit slow to AF and definitely is a noisey lens inAF, which can be a real nuisance when a nearby bird is being targetted.

Nevertheless, I have no regrets since I purchased this lens.

(Non working link deleted)
   
Inactive Account

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Aalst, Belgium
Posts: 16
Review Date: February 26, 2009 Recommended | Price: $250.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: lightweight price size very good quality for price
Cons: less noisy focusing zooming can be improved

This small zoom in comparison with other beasts, performs very well considering the size and light weight
The pictures this lens takes at f8-f11 are very sharp and even at open apertures like F4 you can still take beautiful pictures
Check out these pictures taken with the 55-300
On a K200D this lens is perfectly balanced

Easy to carry, great quality, what more can you ask for
Negatives: Perhaps the zooming in and out could be improved as it feels somewhat sluggish to me. It also feels something a bit "cheap", but dont let the looks fool you!
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2009
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 330

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 24, 2009 Recommended | Price: $290.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: IQ, sharpness, range
Cons: F5.8 at 300

just got this lens today and it is significantly sharper than my current 70-300 lens. Especially at the 300 end which I use a lot for wildlife photography. I tried it out on my Pentax K10d and K20d and It performs great on both but in particular it does a very very good job on the K20d.
   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: March, 2007
Location: Toowoomba, Queensland
Posts: 23,920

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 5, 2009 Recommended | Price: $300.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp throughout all FLs, compact, solid build, decent performance
Cons: no SDM (loud AF)
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

As above.

Taking price into account, I give this lens a 9 (deducting for loud, often hunting AF).
Bright, contrasty and fast enough to capture most stationary/slightly moving things at a distance (stays f/4.5 until 210mm, then f/5.6 until 290mm).

Images are sharp even wide open, which is a BIG plus for me.
I don't even bother about macro mode in a consumer zoom.
If you're keen on macro, don't fluff about with trying to get a telezoom to do the job for you, get a dedicated macro lens.

My suggestion for improvement to this lens would be the implementation of SDM focusing. So, being my only gripe, this consumer zoom giving you sharp images to 300mm at f/5.8 is well worth its price.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2008
Posts: 8,795

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 7, 2008 Recommended | Price: $288.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: IQ, weight, quick-shift focus
Cons: well, it's not f/2.8

What they said.

For the price and weight you are not going to get a lens with better imaging characteristics. Shots taken with this simply look like a Pentax should, eg. great. I don't think there's any way this lens could reasonably be improved.

Note that it stays below f/4.5 until 210mm, so it's really only one stop slower than much more expensive lenses in the last 90mm. This lens is turning me into a tele shooter.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: July, 2007
Location: Florida Gulfer
Posts: 3,054

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 14, 2008 Recommended | Price: $329.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Size,Weight, Price, Range
Cons: Slow AF,
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10   

Execellent lens for distance shooting, You can't beat the IQ & low price for a 5x zoom.
I had the Tamron 70-300 ld di II and the Tamron 18-250 ld di II and the Pentax has better IQ.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: May, 2008
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 1,562

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: September 23, 2008 Recommended | Price: $349.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharp, price
Cons: close focusing distance

Great lens. My last lens of this range was an old Tamron 28-300 "macro".
Lets say, it was no macro, it did not even go to 300mm. When compared to the Pentax 55-300 at 300mm, the Tamrom appears to be about 200m.

The images are sharp even at 300mm. Although not a true macro, it allows for great images up very close. For some images, people asked what macro lens I had used.

The closes focus distance is about four feet. Not as close as the old Tamron, but the images that are produced by the Pentax lens are so much better. I can crop and retain detail.

The price of this lens is less than I paid for the old 28-300 junker. So I am very pleased with is lens and would highly recommend it.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: March, 2008
Location: CT / NY
Posts: 822

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: August 29, 2008 Recommended | Price: $300.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Range, Quality, Size!
Cons: Noisy, sometimes slow, not fast

Not sure how to start other than saying that this lens and a FA 35mm is ALL I carry around nowadays. FA35 precisely taking care of the wide range and the 55-300 working the zoom.

I rated it 9 for the following reasons:

+ Surprisingly small for a 5.5x zoom! I was positively shocked when I received it...
+ Pentax colors and glass... no need to comment here (sharp, great colors)
+ Versatile zoom: 5.5x Zoom at your hands
+ Not really heavy as one would expect it to be
- NOISE AF... not sure how noisy it is compared to sigma/tammy AFs but this lens is noisy!
- Not so fast... I cant use it in low light like i'd like to.. but again, it is not the intent
- Not close focus. It took me a while to figure out why the AF was making some weird noises.. i was out of the focusing range!

I like it a lot and only plan on getting rid of it IF i decide to go DA*.. other than that it will be used a lot!
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2008
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 22
Review Date: August 28, 2008 Recommended | Price: $487.90 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp, Accurate AF, quickshift
Cons: No SDM, No Weather protection

I love this telezoom. It Replaced my old DA 55-200 wich i was very satisfied with, allthough i thought it was too short. 300mm is fantastic to have and use.
The lens has a "high quality feel" and i´m very happy with it. Sharp even wideopen and it has got a VERY resonable prize.
   
Inactive Account

Registered: February, 2007
Location: Gloucester UK
Posts: 441
Review Date: July 17, 2008 Recommended | Price: $380.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Small, light, decent IQ, sharp through range, affordable
Cons: Slowish AF, but a bit faster than the Tamron 70-300 Di

Best of the "affordable" xx-300mm tele-zooms. Small and light, an excellent day bag tele-lens.

Sharp throughout the range, acceptably so even wide open. Improves considerably as you stop down, even by just 1/2 stop, doesn't seem to peak and fall away like the Tamron 70-300 Di (which I also have) or soft at the longer end. Distortion seems very low.

Has some lateral CA which is easily corrected, but best of all has no harsh purple fringing especially with sunlight reflecting off bright surfaces such as water or metal surfaces.

Works with the Tamron 1.4x TC but as with all screw drive lenses, the AF slows down by approx 50% and the IQ is worse than cropping a shot without the TC, but less so than with the other tele-zooms. TC's really are for use with the best primes or when you need those pixels above good IQ!

The close focus distance of 1.4m may deter some, but not me, the others are 1.5m without the macro switch which prevents close operation below 180mm where a closer focus would be handy. The macro performance of the others is not that hot anyway and I suspect a crop from a 1:3.6 macro with the 55-300 would be better than a 1:2 macro from the others.

Mechanical construction is excellent with virtually no zoom wobble or stickiness. Quick-shift focusing is a boon, I use it to quickly snap to approximate focus and then use the AF to nail it, which prevents possible hunting and when going from close to distant objects.

Comes complete with a nice hood and a decent pouch.

Even if you have tele primes or when you get a DA*60-250 () this is a very decent travel tele-zoom. Don't dismiss it, it will surprise you! - It's
   
Veteran Member

Registered: July, 2008
Location: Detroit MI, USA
Posts: 508

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 12, 2008 Recommended | Price: $370.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Low CA/PF, usable wide open 55-300mm, compact size and light, front does not rotate can use CP filters
Cons: No macro mode, no weather sealing,

I have extensively tested and used this lens and it has performed very well. Compared to some of its less expensive rivals this lens offer greater color, contrast and sharpness at the long end (200-300mm). Center sharpness is very good wide open throughout its focal range. However the corners do drop down at both ends but stop it up one or two stops and things get sharp corner to corner. This lens has very good control over CA/PF. I also find the lens a bit smaller and lighter than some if its rivals, because this is not a FF lens as the others. The build quality is fine the barrel is smooth in zooming and the focus ring feels nice, there is no creep; the build and overall feel is about like the kit (not a bad thing). What about negative things, well for the money I find very little to fault except it does not have a macro mode like its less expensive rivals. But overall for the money and after using a few other consumer level 70-300mm lens, this lens makes me very happy.
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2008
Posts: 5

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 11, 2008 Recommended | Price: $300.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp image, great range
Cons: not an SDM lens.

Haven't done extensive testing, but overall I'm impressed with the IQ, and love that you can adjust the focus after it AF's.

I wish it had a closer focal length... (1.5 meters) But, hey, thats what a macro is for :P
   
Veteran Member

Registered: March, 2007
Location: Alberta,Canada
Posts: 20,914

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 18, 2008 Recommended | Price: $399.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Size , Weight, Price, Range, No Zoom Creep
Cons: AF can be noisy
Sharpness: 7    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 7    Autofocus: 4    Handling: 8    Value: 8   

I purchased this Lens about a week ago along with the DA* 16-50. I do have the Tamron 18-250 and will keep it as a more single all purpose lens.

The lens has little or no PF. I have taken some sky shots of birds in tree and was impressed. It’s compact build and 300mm are great for me. I wanted a little more reach without having to 'strap' the Bigma on. Build quality is decent. There is no SDM or weather sealing, price reflects that. If you are in the same FL then AF is pretty snappy. If however you are changing from a few meters to infinity the AF can be noisy , scaring away birds if that is what you are trying to capture. No Zoom creep. This is huge when you are pointing at the sky or the ground. This may loosen up over time , but out of the box , it is solid at whatever FL you pick.

The lens hood does have a slide out to move a CPL. The filter size is a respectable 58mm so UV and CPL will not cost a fortune. I do find it a little unstable hand held at 300mm but no more so than my Tamron and is more a result of my ability than the lens / camera. With SR unless the subject is moving this is not really an issue. The biggest surprise to me was the IQ. I bought this lens on an impulse knowing I could return it for a full refund within 7 days. 7th day was yesterday and I still own it . Performance in low light is not spectacular but better than I expected. Bumping ISO helps.

Overall I think this a great consumer lens, well worth the money. Not the lens for capturing birds in flight and it has no macro ability good range , good price and very respectable IQ.

Edit: I stand corrected about Quick Shift MF , what I understood to be Quick MF - I am use to the DA* , Bigma , Sigma 105 where there is a switch or something that will physcailly change the lens from from AF to MF mode. The DA 55-300 will allow you to AF and then once the motor is disengaged turn the focus ring for MF tweaking .
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