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HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE Review RSS Feed

HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

Sharpness 
 8.6
Aberrations 
 8.9
Bokeh 
 8.7
Autofocus 
 9.5
Handling 
 8.9
Value 
 9.1
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46 168,284 Sun January 28, 2024
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
89% of reviewers $393.97 8.89
HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
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HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
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HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
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HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
supersize
HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
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HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
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Description:

The HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE is a compact, weather-sealed APS-C telephoto zoom lens featuring a retractable barrel design.  This lens also debuts PLM (Pulse Motor) autofocus technology and an electromagnetic aperture diaphragm to facilitate smooth focusing and exposure adjustments during video recording.

Unlike earlier Pentax lenses, the aperture stop-down lever in the camera is not used to control the diaphragm of this lens.  A DSLR launched in 2013 or later is needed to operate this new system (the K-500 is not compatible).

The optical formula of this lens has been redesigned compared to the previous DA 55-300mm F4-5.8.  The new lens now has a rear-mounted focus ring and internal focus, is nearly 3 cm shorter when collapsed, but also loses about half a stop of light at both ends.


HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
APS-C
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
No
Diaphragm
Automatic, 9 blades (rounded)
Optics
14 elements, 11 groups
Mount Variant
KAF4
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F4.5-6.3
Min. Aperture
F22-32
Focusing
AF (in-lens motor)
PLM
Quick-shift
Yes
Min. Focus
95 cm
Max. Magnification
0.3x
Filter Size
58 mm
Internal Focus
Yes
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 29-5.4 ° / 25-4.6 °
Hood
PH-RBK58
Case
S80-120
Lens Cap
O-LC58
Coating
HD,SP
Weather Sealing
Yes (WR)
Other Features
Retractable,Electromagnetic Aperture Diaphragm,Focus by Wire
Diam x Length
76.5 x 89 mm (3.01 x 3.5 in.)
Weight
442 g (15.6 oz.)
Production Years
2016 to present (in production)
Pricing
$396 USD current price
$399 USD at launch
Engraved Name
HD Pentax-DA 1:4.5-6.3 55-300mm ED PLM WR RE
Product Code
21277
Reviews
User reviews
In-depth review
Unofficial Full-Frame Compatibility Tests by Pentax Forums
★☆☆ Usable with reservations at select F-stop/focal length combinations
Show details
Notes
High-precision exposure control in movie mode thanks to the electromagnetic aperture diaphragm.
NOT COMPATIBLE with the K-500 and with Pentax DSLRs launched before 2013.
Firmware update needed for compatibility with the Pentax K-S2, K-S1, K-3 II, K-3, K-50, and K-1. Fully supported by newer bodies.

Features:
Supersonic AutofocusQuick ShiftWeather SealedInternal FocusingAutomatic ApertureAPS-C Digital Only
Purchase: Buy the HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
In-Depth Review: Read our HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE in-depth review!
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price History:



Add Review of HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE Buy the HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
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Site Supporter

Registered: May, 2007
Posts: 2,279

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 2, 2020 Recommended | Price: $460.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Focusing speed and accuracy, compact form factor, bokeh, contrast
Cons: A bit on the slow side (aperture-wise), need to unlock zoomring
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 8    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: KP   

So here's my confession: I'm not a prime guy but also far from a superzoom lover. I feel somewhat restricted by primes (although I love my Revuenon 55mm/f1.2 and my sigma 85mm/f1.4) and I just don't get either the sharpness or the IQ I need with superzooms.
I rarely shoot above 135mm but sometimes something pops up that causes me to regret not having anything in the 200-400mm range. The DA*60-250 is awesome but a bit heavy and awkward not to talk about the newer DFA zooms. The Tamron and Sigma 70-200mm lenses are bulky and heavy as heck too.

I experimented years ago with the Pentax FA J 75-300 which was horribly soft as well as slow and inaccurate to focus. Tried a Tamron 70-300 which was even worse. I did own a nice DA55-300 (the non-WR version) and it was pretty decent but still didn't trigger any love.

So, just to feed my LBA and get back above 200mm, I now splurged on the newer PLM version of the 55-300mm. It arrived early evening and I just had a few minutes in bad light to try it out but I can tell this is going to be fun. The experiment was to shoot it straight as well as mount it on the HD DA 1.4x converter and also see how it fared at the full 420mm and I have to admit, I'm blown away. Even after a trip through NeatImage for some NR on the ISO3200 and ISO6400 files, there is so much detail in the images. Focus was spot-on and instantaneous, soundless.

I'll run the lens with and without converter through its paces tomorrow and I have high hopes. Will update the review after.

EMG02242-DA55-300PLM-ISO3200-dt-gimp_filtered-2020-web by Mike Bing, on Flickr

EMG02248-DA55-300PLM-ISO6400-dt-gimp_filtered-2020-web by Mike Bing, on Flickr

EMG02252-DA55-300PLM-ISO6400-dt-gimp_filtered-2020-web by Mike Bing, on Flickr

[NEXT DAY EDIT]
OK, so i had a chance to take the lens out for a bit and I can only be very satisfied with the results. Plenty detail and sharpness when handled correctly and allowing ISO to compensate for the relatively slow apertures. The KP handles higher ISO values with ease so this lens on a K-3 may not be as satisfactory perhaps.
EMG02303-DA55-300PLM-ISO200-dt-gimp-2020-web by Mike Bing, on Flickr

EMG02283-DA55-300PLM-ISO800-dt-gimp-2020-web by Mike Bing, on Flickr

EMG02256-DA55-300PLM-ISO200-dt-gimp-2020-web by Mike Bing, on Flickr
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2020
Location: Copenhagen
Posts: 24

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 5, 2020 Recommended | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: Zoom range
Cons: Not the center is the sharpest
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 8    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-70   

This is my first Pentax lens. It is so versatile, very happy with the zoom range, cover many things, etc. Weather proof is the other positive. The 55-70mm focal length area is very useful for me (my other lenses always started at 70mm unfortunately) this is also one reason I switched to Pentax (from Nikon). At 300mm f6.3 it could be sharper, I think it is lack of contrast and soft. A little negative that in strong cloudy winter time, when the light is weak, even daytime the photos looks very soft without contrast. In a nice sunny day is very usable this lens. The AF is very quick and silence, but in Live View Mode don't expect miracles, it is so slow and you can hear the focusmotor running. The big positive is that there isn't any chromatic aberrations at all, at least in my copy. Also the lens has minimal distortion towards the edges, where it is stronger, but it is evident. For me the biggest step up is the Pentax newly developed electromagnetic driven aperture control. Fantastic and I wish that Pentax release more such lenses in the future. Overall a nice lens and happy to shoot with it.
   
Review Date: February 24, 2020 Not Recommended | Price: $250.00 | Rating: 4 

 
Pros: Zoom range
Cons: Zooming not smooth but very stiff
Sharpness: 8    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 3    Value: 4    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-3II   

If I take a picture with it, it's very good. But composition is very hard to do, because zooming is difficult especially in small steps. I noticed that a lot reviewers complain at the stiffness of the zoom. I expected it to be as smooth as Pentax's 18-135, and it is not. I wonder why Pentax is not able to have the same smoothness of zooming in all its lenses. Only in specific cases I turn to this lens. I returned this lens to have it serviced, but Ricoh service let me know that zooming is within parameters for this lens, the seller warned me for this reaction of Ricoh. Unfortunately I cannot recommend this lens.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: January, 2013
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 1,651

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 5, 2019 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Small, light and surprisingly good optically
Cons: None noticed so far (for price_
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K3   

After my usual need for AF adjustment, this low cost lens is looking very good indeed. I ended up at +7, with the low end needing more like +5 and the top around +8. At +7, I just need a little more care at 55mm.

As background I've a variety of FF and cropped lenses, both primes and zooms to compare this lens with.

First off it looks a low value lens, especially when zoomed out. It does not feel especially robust. But, and it's a very positive but, this lenses is remarkably good value. I have no intention of using it to print large (up to A1) as I do often enough, nor do I intend to pixel peep it against expensive primes - it's not a lens for this. What it is, is a low cost, very convenient, walkabout lens, that focuses very quickly, and when AF adjusted is plenty sharp in the centre. Yes, it drops off at the edges a little, but not excessively.

I tend to use a tripod/monopod for my normal photography, but with this the intention is to travel light. It's obviously hard to hold this light lens at the long end and avoid camera shake, but with Pentax's shake reduction, hand held 300mm shots are proving to be perfectly (for me at 100%) in focus at around 1/400. For web viewing, the shutter can go a fair bit lower.

Overall, I'd say it's an excellent value lens that's fun to use.
   
New Member

Registered: March, 2016
Posts: 2

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 5, 2019 Recommended | Price: $400.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Fast precise AF, focal range, WR, size, weight, IQ
Cons: to work/play ONLY with quite light, I want all my lenses PLM
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K70   

It is an impressive lens, robust but light, small but powerful, economical but very good quality. The only negative thing is that in low light it can be useless without tripod.
Super fast and precise autofocus (hsm, screw or sdm is sh*t in comparison)
If I had to choose a single lens on a bright day it would be this, no doubt.
I have tried it with the Kenko 1.5x and it loses the very fast autofocus although with generous light it continues to AF much faster than the first 55-300 without the 1.5x. The quality of the combo is superior to croping, loses a bit contrast, microcontrast and sharpnes, but it still good.

Here is an example with the Kenko 1.5x 100% crop, wide open f:6.3 @300 iso200 1/250
Real unedited RAW from RAWTherapee, not from Photoshop that adjust the images before you (maybe i dont know use it)



And the adjusted RAW...

   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2019
Location: Geelong, Australia
Posts: 341
Review Date: March 19, 2019 Recommended | Price: $400.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: WR, blistering fast autofocus, range of zoom itself.
Cons: Focus hunting.

Crystal clear pics. Bought new and instantly fell in love with the autofocus speed.
Much better than any other 300mm lens I have ever used. I have yet to use a DA*300
   
New Member

Registered: September, 2010
Posts: 22

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 7, 2019 Not Recommended | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: sharpness
Cons: Durability
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 6    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 8    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K3   

I had this lens for only a short time and truly enjoyed it, sadly I would not buy again though because as I was getting out of my truck after coming home from a winter hike on the beach the lens barely tapped my steering wheel. I looked in amazement because it had snapped in half along the barrel. When I looked closer at it I could see it was the thinnest of plastic. I do most of my shooting outside and I know I can be hard on my gear but as a 30 year user (and bragger) of Pentax equipment I was quite disappointed to say the least. I also own a 16-85 that has been at the shop more than in my bag. I use primes 90% of the time but still expect better from Pentax zooms.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: November, 2014
Posts: 366
Review Date: December 14, 2018 Recommended | Price: $347.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, fast and silent AF, WR, build quality, price
Cons: None yet
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K3 & K-S2   

Upgraded from a DAL 55-300 that I've used for 4 years with some very nice favorite photos... but I've also missed many photos because of truck like slow screw drive AF on the DAL 55-300.

The new PLM 55-300 is a major step up in AF, WR and IQ. I've taken many shots from the outlook 25 miles away from NYC and the PLM was far and away the sharpest with hundreds of individual windows clearly visible when Pixel peeping.

I was debating between the PLM 55-300 and DA* 300... I was really looking forward to the DA* 300 sharpness, IQ and build quality, but, budget considerations won out.

I thought I was going to be disappointed with the sharpness in order to save over half the money by going with the PLM. I'm sure the DA* 300 is sharper and better IQ but I'm very pleased with the PLM 55-300. If you can afford it then by all means get the best... or both!

   
Seeker of Knowledge

Registered: August, 2016
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Posts: 24,562
Review Date: December 1, 2018 Recommended | Price: $346.95 | Rating: N/A 

 
Pros: size, weight
Cons:
New or Used: New    Camera Used: K 3 II, K 3   

just bought this lens due to sale price

amazed at the silence

and the size

surprised at locking system, had to figure that out, not explained well enough for me
   
New Member

Registered: April, 2014
Posts: 5

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 9, 2018 Recommended | Price: $368.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, light for a telephoto lens, silent autofocus, build quality, compacteness locked
Cons: Slow aperture, zoom ring a bit difficult to turn
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 9    New or Used: New    Camera Used: Pentax kp   

This lens was a real surprise. For its cost it is really an excellent travel companion for portraits, details and nature. Well built, fast autofocus, nice bokeh, light and even wr. And above all, it guarantees a good image quality. Currently I also have a 50-135 that in the last holiday I left for this lens.
Below are cropped photos of birdlife taken with KP.









   
Senior Member

Registered: July, 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 230
Review Date: September 6, 2018 Not Recommended | Price: $375.00 | Rating: 4 

 
Pros: Smaller than the DA 55-300
Cons: Terrible sharpness-auto focus OK
Sharpness: 3    Aberrations: 5    Bokeh: 5    Autofocus: 4    Handling: 5    Value: 5    New or Used: New    Camera Used: Pentax k3II   

Bought this with a new K3ii hoping for a combo for sports. Big disappointment. Bought them online from a NYC vendor. Normally they accept returns within 30 days-after two weeks tried to return both-they would take the camera back but not the lens-that tells you something. Terrible low light combination-my K5iis blows it out of the water. Can't try it on another camera because of the new mount-don't even think about sending to the repair center for evaluation. If you buy this lens make sure you ask if you can return it-caveat emptor
   
Junior Member

Registered: July, 2016
Location: Alps
Posts: 35

6 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 7, 2018 Recommended | Price: $350.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: high image quality for the price, compactness & weight, handling, autofocus
Cons: 200-300mm sharpness, low light AF
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-3 II   

This is a fantastic lens. Arguably the best quality/price tele for pentax.
I've extensively used the DA* 60-250, to which I can compare.


Sharpness:
Until 200mm : Excellent at the center ! It's hard to tell the difference with DA*60-250. Micro-contrast is excellent also.
Ok on edges/corners, but a step down the DA* telezoom.

At 300mm, sharpness across the frame is WAY worse.


Colour rendition:
It's OK but I prefer the rendition of the DA* 60-250.

The 55-300 feels in the same league as other DA (not star *) lenses, while the DA* 60-250 if more of the DA* / Limited rendering.


Bokeh:
To me, better than the DA* 60-250.

The smaller aperture make it sometimes impossible to achieve though, but on proxy shots it's gorgeous.

Autofocus:
Blazing fast AF, great subject tracking, provided the light is good.
Once it gets really cloudy, or at the shadows, AF is not that good and it can be difficult to follow a slow moving subject getting images sufficiently sharp.


Handling:
It's a joy to use : lightweight, compact, reactive.

Only downside would be the barrel extension while zooming... but you can't have it all ! Even the DA*60-250 extends.

And for having used both for maybe 30 000 shots each, the latter feels a lot more bulkier. Manipulating the new 55-300 is a pleasure.

Value:
Unbeatable !

Other pros:
Wide range, sharp wide open, quite small retracted.


For the story, I've broken my DA* 60-250 and had to use my "backup" 55-300 PLM for a few weeks of everyday river-sports shooting - photos I make money with. I was sceptical on the quality, and specially afraid of poor subject tracking, having owned the older 55-300.
I ended up completely sold on the 55-300 PLM, with the main downside being the look of the lens that's not pro like DA*, which unfortunately has some importance when you sell your pictures.

Finally I chose to replace my 60-250 with the DA* 50-135 mostly for handling reasons, and I just love that new lens too, but that's another topic.

Anyway I know I can count on my 55-300 PLM if needed even professionally.

This is my go-to lens for shots needing reach, wildlife, travelling (along with HD 16-85).
   
Veteran Member

Registered: December, 2013
Posts: 796

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: July 8, 2018 Recommended | Price: $470.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: Small, WR
Cons: Mediocre IQ, slow aperture
Sharpness: 7    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 7    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 9    New or Used: New    Camera Used: KP   

This lens is a very good consumer tele zoom. The price/perfomance is excelent with this lens and gives a very good reach. Altough I don't like how it renders the images after getting the FA limiteds and the DA*200. This lens is a perfect consumer lens, but not a pro grade one.
My favorite thing about this lens is the size. I can fit it in my bag easily in the retracted position. This lens is small and light for its zoom range.
The AF performance is excelent even in AF-C mode.

Here are some images:
IMG170830_0013 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr

IMG170830_0015 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr

IMG170630_0077 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr

IMG170416_0019 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr

IMG170402_0009 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
   
Senior Member

Registered: July, 2009
Location: London
Posts: 212
Review Date: June 15, 2018 Recommended | Price: $400.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: All round ability
Cons: Zoom control stiff
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: K-S2   

Every so often a design is right. This lens meets that level of ability. Taking into consideration, price and overall performance, I cannot see another brand matching it. It has to be used to appreciate how good it is.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: February, 2010
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 6,153

9 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 21, 2018 Recommended | Price: $360.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Compact, excellent image quality at wide end
Cons: Only moderately sharp at long end
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New    Camera Used: Pentax KP   

I was tempted to give this lens a rating of ten, because in the range I mostly use it (i.e., 55-135), it's very close to ten. It's sharp edge to edge, with outstanding contrast and excellent color rendition, and is capable of producing images that come very close to what you can get with professional glass. This lens provides me with something I've wanted for years: a compact telephoto zoom for landscape photography. For years if you wanted excellent quality image quality in a telephoto zoom, you had to go with large, heavy and expensive lenses like the DA* 50-135, the DA* 60-250 or the Tamron 70-200 f2.8. I own the Tamron and have rarely used it for landscape photography because it's just too heavy to take wherever I go. The 55-300 PLM provides sharp, contrasty images with Pentax colors in light, compact form factor. I've used retractable lenses on m43 cameras and really appreciate the concept. In retracted form the lens is not only smaller and thus easier to carry around, but it's sturdier and better protected. The quick focusing action via the PLM is an added bonus.

The lens does lose some resolution toward the long end. At 300mm it's only moderately sharp, plus it's only f6.3. In decent light combined with solid technique, you can still get an image good enough for an 18 inch print, but if you shooting in poor light and want to print large, this is not the right tool for the job, at least not at 300mm.

Whether you own some of the larger professional quality telephoto lenses out there or not, I'd still recommend this lens for its compact size. It's a lens that you can take wherever you go and still count on getting excellent quality in the wider range and at least fair quality at the long range.

Some samples, taken with the KP, the first three using PS, beginning with an image shot at 55mm:



@88



@230mm:



@300mm:

Add Review of HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE Buy the HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE



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