HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR Review

Vignetting vs DA* 60-250

For our final image quality comparison, we wanted to assess how the two lenses handled vignetting, the characteristic where the brightness of an image is not uniform across the entire frame, particularly along the edges. For this assessment, we compared both at their minimum and maximum focal lengths.

Comparison One - Minimum Focal Length

For our first comparison, we were at the minimum focal lengths for each lens, 55mm and 60mm for the HD 55-300 and the DA* 60-250, respectively. The following settings were applied across all the sample images in this test:

  • Tripod
  • 2s Timer per shot
  • Focal Length: 55mm or 60mm
  • Camera Mode: Av (Aperture Priority)
  • Shutter Speed: Adjusted with aperture by in-camera meter
  • ISO: 800
HD 55-300
DA* 60-250
F4.0
F4.5
F5.0
F5.6
F6.3
F7.1
F8.0

pared both at their minimum and maximum focal lengths.

Comparison Two - Maximum Focal Length

In exactly the same manner as the above test, we shot the two lenses from the same tripod position to see how they fared in their vignetting control. Only this time, both were set to their maximum focal lengths, 300mm and 250mm for the HD 55-300 and DA* 60-250, respectively. The same parameters from the first comparison test were also in effect during this iteration:

  • Tripod
  • 2s Timer per shot
  • Focal Length: 55mm or 60mm
  • Camera Mode: Av (Aperture Priority)
  • Shutter Speed: Adjusted with aperture by in-camera meter
  • ISO: 800
HD 55-300
DA* 60-250
F4.0
N/A
F4.5
N/A
F5.0
N/A
F5.8

/

F5.6
F6.3
F7.1
F8.0

Verdict

As you can see, at the shorter focal lengths, the HD 55-300 is very consistent across the entire aperture range. The DA* 60-250 however has a bit of vignetting from wide open until about F4.5, and at F5.0 it becomes consistent throughout its aperture range as well with a minor amount of vignetting.

Moving to the other side of the zoom ring tells a very different story. Where the DA* is consistent throughout its aperture with a bit of vignetting only at wide open, just like at 60mm, the HD 55-300 has an extremely strong case of vignetting at this focal length. So much so that we thought we shot these photos in error, however we can assure you these are accurate. By F8.0 the vignetting is very minimal, however it is still at least 2/3 stop underexposed as compared to the DA*'s equivalent settings.

And last but not least, we have arrived to the autofocus comparison between the HD 55-300 and the DA* 60-250 - head to the next page to see our four different tests and how we did them.


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