| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Land of the password Posts: 83
14 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 27, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $410.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Smaller, lighter, fast and silent focusing | | Cons: | Unlocking mechanism | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K3II
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I'm surprised no-one has reviewed this lens yet, but I guess the question most people will be asking is - "Is this worth upgrading from the original 55-300mm"? From my perspective, coming from the latest version of the old design, it's an unequivocal yes, it's a no-brainer for the following reasons:
1. It's significantly shorter ( Though a bit wider ).
2. It's 10% lighter.
3. Focusing is virtually silent.
4. Focusing is significantly quicker.
5. It has closer focusing, and with an achromatic/close-up lens such as the Canon 500D it makes a decent macro lens.
6. It handles CA better.
7. It's a bit sharper.
8. 9 aperture blades giving better bokeh characteristics.
9. Build quality is essentially the same.
10. It's better for video.
All in all it's a worthwhile upgrade with the advantages listed above. About the only thing I can criticise it for is the unlocking mechanism which is required to shoot with the lens. In essence you push a button to expand the lens to 55mm and carry on shooting. If you switch the camera on without doing it then you will get a message telling you to do it on the LCD. Personally this isn't an issue to me, it makes the lens shorter, but to some it might. The zoom is also quite stiff but I expect that to loosen off over time and I prefer that to it being overly loose. Colour and contrast appear to be the same as it's predecessor, which is to say pretty good, though it fades at the long end as expected. The bokeh is the other thing worth noting, it really is very decent in many situations. If you've been hesitating on whether to upgrade from the old version to this one then don't, it's well worth it. here are a couple of macro examples from this lens, using the Canon 500D close-up lens.
 | | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: February, 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 6,173
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
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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:
 | | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2023 Posts: 1
7 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 28, 2023 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | good price, sharpnes, very fast autofocus | | Cons: | more plastic | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: KP K10D
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For this price is the best small tele lens! If you thinking about buy this lens buy it. Now i need more lights and buy 150-450 but if not have money for 150-450 buy 55-300 plm! Look at my photos!
 17 by Łukasz Karzełek, on Flickr
 12 by Łukasz Karzełek, on Flickr
 10 by Łukasz Karzełek, on Flickr
| | | | | 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
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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).
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2011 Location: Brno Posts: 295
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 4, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Size, weight, AF | | Cons: | Aperture, cost of new unit, not fully compatible with K5 and older cameras | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K3 (K5, K20D, M4/3 adapted)
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Lens is a solid little telephoto. I also have older SMC DA55-300/4-5.8 which I bought back in 2008 and I was quite happy with it. I also have large things like Sigma 100-300/4, Sigma 50-500/4-6.3 and few 70-200/2.8 lenses.
Concerning image quality this HD DA55-300PLM WR fits somewhere between the old SMC DA55-300 and Sigma 100-300/4. Obviously it does not reach aperture or resolution levels of that large fast zoom, but it optically is a bit better than the older brother. It shows best output closed to F8-F10 at long end like the older 55-300. Resolution is not bad for such small telephoto. F6.3 aperture is nothing to boast about, but on daylight it is ok.
Autofocus is quiet and much faster than the old body driven SMC DA55-300. About comparable to Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM and surprisingly even the body driven Sigma 100-300/4 can refocus almost as fast. AF accuracy is OK.
When you change zoom of the lens, camera is always refocusing the lens even without any user interaction.
Lens size is perfect thanks to collapsible design. It is shorter than my M4/3 Olympus 75-300/4.8-6.7 and just a tiny bit more fat. Squeezing such zoom range into such small body is something. It is also weather sealed to some extent (I would not recommend to zoom during rain), which is nice. Collapsible design requires the button to be pushed and lens to be extended to allow camera to work with it. When collapsed, it does nothing.
There are two sad things about this lens. It does not have any focusing scale, so you have to rely on viewfinder of live-view when focusing manually. So forget about some night shots with MF unless you see something on display. The other sad thing is the aperture control mechanism that needs K3 or newer body to work properly. But on K3 it is perfectly OK.
Lets say you already have older SMC DA55-300/4-5.8 or HD DA55-300/4-5.8WR. Is this lens an upgrade? Optically there is barely any noticeable difference. Those older lenses were quite good for their range already. AF is significantly faster. But the question is price. I bought this lens because the 2nd hand price was too tempting to let it be. But price of new PLM one is not worth the difference if you already have one of those older lenses. And if you are frequently using older cameras like K5 or you have such camera as a backup, then this new PLM wont fully support it. It works, it focuses, but you are shooting wide open all the time.
In general it is good little modern telephoto lens and you'll be happy with it if your intended use is mainly for tourism, outdoor trips, daylight shooting, shooting with F8, birds and other animals, distant cityscape etc.
If you want lens for indoor photography, portraiture, low light or you need hi-res telephoto, look elsewhere.
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2007 Posts: 2,287
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
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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: December, 2013 Posts: 7
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 24, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $340.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, consistent, nice bokeh | | Cons: | slow | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k70
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I got this as an upgrade from the old non WR version. I bought an open box one for £280, and I couldn't be happier with it.
It is most definitely sharper than my old one, and very consistent. Ok, there is still perhaps a little bit of softness towards 300mm, but overall edge sharpness is much improved, and most focal lengths are centre sharp from wide open.
It's has nice accurate colour rendering, better contrast, much smoother bokeh, and produces really nice portraits. The MFD is considerably less than the old one, so it's a handy pseudo-macro to boot. Ok, it's not going to better my FA77 or DFA100, but still, if you are out and about and want to stick with weather resistant zooms, this is an absolute winner. Another IQ aspect which ìs hugely improved is the almost total lack of fringing, which for a cheap as chips tele zoom is impressive.
I find the handling is good. The big advantage of the retractable design for me, is that you can put the camera on a sling and lock the zoom so it stays compact as it's swinging around. Unlocking it becomes second nature very easily.
The focussing is super quiet, fairly quick, and pretty reliable too. I have even managed to capture some birds in flight, which was just impossible with the old one. I love the way the focus by wire kicks in automatically when you switch the camera on.
It pairs well with my 16-85mm, which is also sharp from wide open throughout the range, and with the ISO performance I'm getting from my K70, the slowness of these lenses on paper doesn't really hold me back much in practice. Goes against the common wisdom, but that's Pentax for you. I don't think you can expect better value. If your camera is compatible, get one. I simply can't imagine there is a better affordable long zoom out there.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: August, 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 13, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $375.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | compact, fast autofocus, silent and sharp! | | Cons: | need to unlock it before shooting | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-50
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This is an outstanding zoom lens and easily surpasses my previous smc-DA 55-300mm (non-WR, green ring version), which I also thought was sharp but it suffered from slow and loud autofocus. I recently bought this zoom and used it on a dolphin-watching boat trip while visiting my in-laws in Florida. We were lucky to run into a big pod of dolphins who were, shall we say, feeling "frisky." If you look closely, one of the pictures below shows a dolphin male genitalia. The new HD DA 55-300 WR RE was an outstanding performer for this sightseeing trip on the water, and I loved how it handled-- compact when retracted, fast, accurate, and quiet autofocus. Love the build quality-- no wobbles. It's one of the best lenses I've purchased for my K-50 and I have quite a few lenses!! If you don't already own a 55-300, your choice of this model is pretty easy. If you already have an older 55-300, I say sell it and pick one of these up. It has revitalized my interest in using this zoom range. PS: all of these images taken at 300mm I think.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2016 Posts: 1
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 7, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $515.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small, light, good optics | | Cons: | Dust into lens | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K3-II
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 IMGP5921 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP5976 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP5989 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP6047 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP6056 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP6057 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP6064 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP6084 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP6102 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
 IMGP6134 by Peter Kao, 於 Flickr
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: September, 2010 Location: Venlo Posts: 163
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 17, 2023 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | weight, size,price,price/performance ratio | | Cons: | none for this price | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K3 Mk.III
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I bought this lens new, and traded the first (non-WR) version of this lens, so it is difficult to mention a price.
When I first tried to make the AF micro-adjustment, the necessary lens correction was out of limit. I sent camera and lens for calibration (warranty) and the lens returned perfect. Zero adjustment (although I had to re-adjust my other lenses, because the camera was calibrated as well).
This is a great walk around lens. I love to take it when hiking. Very versatile, good range, lightweight. No, this is not a fast lens, but that was clear before the purchase.
Autofocus is not only very fast, but also very reliable. Also for birds in flight.
For the rest, I speak about the 300mm setting only.
Other reviewers mention soft corners. I agree. The corners don't increase much at f/11. But in my experience it is mainly bad at short focus distance. Landscapes aren't sharp from center to edge, but acceptably sharp at f/11. Praise the newer camera bodies with excellent high-ISO performance 
I edit my RAW images in DxO Photolab and PL handles the aberrations well, no problems here.
That said, the lens is no match for my Sigma 4/100-300mm EX DG. A completely different league. And a different size, weight and price. The resolution, translated into details, the IQ in the corners, everything is way better with the Sigma. On the other hand, if your subject is an animal at a distance of 100ft, the differences between lenses disappear completely if the AF is half an inch off. And the Sigma is not only much slower than the 55-300, but also less reliable. If I use a TC with the Sigma, the largest aperture becomes comparable and the difference in AF speed is huge.
My main negative point is the rendering of OOF areas. Not especially bokeh, not about the shape of OOF highlights, but the OOF areas are more distracting than I expected. Even from a slow lens.
All images below are 100% crops.
Sigma 4/100-300 f/6.3 corner, focus distance approx. 250-300 feet
[IMG]https://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/images/30515/large/1_Pentax-IMGP5806_corner_f6.3.jpg[/IMG]
Pentax 55-300 f/6.3 corner, focus distance approx. 250-300 feet. Somehow, this image doesn't show here, but it can be viewed in the gallery, via the link. Strange.
Sigma 4/100-300mm f/6.3 center, focus distance approx. 250-300 feet
Pentax 55-300mm f/6.3 center, focus distance approx. 250-300 feet
Pentax 55-300mm, f/11 corner, focus distance approx. 30 feet
Pentax 55-300mm, f/6.3 corner, focus distance approx. 30 feet
Pentax 55-300mm, f/11 corner, focus distance approx. 10 feet
Pentax 55-300mm, f/11 center, focus distance approx. 10 feet
Pentax 55-300mm, f/6.3 corner, focus distance approx. 10 feet
Pentax 55-300mm, f/6.3 center, focus distance approx. 10 feet
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: July, 2011 Posts: 2,385
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 24, 2022 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Nice package wrt features, performance & price | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K3iii
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This lens offers all great Pentax features like compact/folding design, very good optical performance and even silent AF and weather sealing. The price is very competitive.
Aperture wise it is a slow lens with f/6.3 at the long end. SR helps to create sharp images, but the lightweight lens is shaky in the viewfinder. Chromatic abberation is visible - still well controlled. Nice and light APSC package. K1 with 150-450 plays in a different league wrt size, weight, price and quality.
Minimum focus distance is also great.Folded it is as long as the 100M, very nice for travel.
For the price, this lens is a must have, unless you go big (150-450) or fixed (DA300). Family can now mix and match K1ii/K3iii and 150-450/55-300.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2011 Location: Niagara, Ontario Posts: 57
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 2, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $280.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Focus speed, light weight, image quality, build. | | Cons: | AF needs good light. a little soft at long end | |
An excellent wide range light weight zoom lens for general photography with very fast AF in good light. Ideal as a walk-around lens. Image quality is very good up to 280 mm and drops off slightly up to 300mm, but not enough to bother me. Build quality and waterproofing is good and the zoom movement is relatively smooth on my copy. The lens lock button is easy to unlock by just pressing the button and rotating the lens barrel with the same hand. As a bird watcher the rapid AF speed captures the song birds flitting from branch to branch at medium range providing light is good. There is a learning curve to master capturing birds-in-flight, but I have longer lenses for this application. Purchased fro a Pentax dealer in Niagara Ontario for C$ 356.00. My US price is estimated. A very preliminary review as I recently purchased this lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2014 Location: Tennessee Posts: 20
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 7, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Buy this lens!!! | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-70
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My video review explains the magic of this lens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCvD9NOFM1g&t=321s
 | | | | | 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
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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.
| | | | | 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
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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.
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