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55-300 or 50-200mm?

Posted 23/05/2011 - 23:06 Link
How do the PENTAX 55-300MM DAL ED F4-5.8 LENS and PENTAX 50-200MM DA L ED F4-5.6 LENS compare?

There is obviously the extra reach but how do the optics etc compare?

Really want a cheap zoom and these seem to fit the bill.

I can get the 50-300mm for £200 and 50-200 for about £120. Is it worth the difference?

Any advice is much appreciated.
www.flickr.com/tmondhallie13
Pentax Kr -
Pentax DA 17-70mm f4 AL SDM
Pentax DA L 18-55mm
Blythman
Posted 23/05/2011 - 23:07 Link
Look on the RH side of the webpage for a review
Alan


PPG
Flickr
MarkD
Posted 23/05/2011 - 23:40 Link
55-300, absolutely, hands down winner. No contest.
.........all the gear, no idea!
Me super, MX, LX, K5,DA 18-55WR, DA 17-70, DA 55-300, DA40 Ltd, FA50 1.4, Samsung D-Xenon 12-24,Samsung 100mm macro M50 1.7(x3), M28 3.5, M35 2.8, M100macro f4, M135 3.5(+others)
davex
Posted 24/05/2011 - 08:12 Link
wot MarkD said
K5 + 8mm-500mm zooms and primes
Please feel free to play with any images I post.
My flickr: link
Mike-P
Posted 24/05/2011 - 08:33 Link
55-300mm .. superb lens for the money. I have been using mine more and more lately and leaving the more expensive lenses home.

Comment Image

New Forest Foal by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr
fritzthedog
Posted 24/05/2011 - 08:33 Link
davex wrote:
wot MarkD said

+1 - great lens

Carl
No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more
stub
Posted 24/05/2011 - 08:55 Link
got to be 55 - 300....for me.
K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..
simonkit
Posted 24/05/2011 - 09:46 Link
A pattern is forming...without doubt the DA55-300, I found it quite a step forward in IQ from the DA50-200

Simon
jules
Posted 24/05/2011 - 10:04 Link
Hmmm the Mists of my LBA Crystal ball are stirring...:arrow:
Cheers Jules...

My viewfinder is 576,000,000 pixels.
My other viewfinder is 5.76,000,000.

www.exaggeratedperspectives.com
xbow
Posted 24/05/2011 - 11:09 Link
Given the reviews it gets and the low price tag it's a winner. Shame it's not been updated with it's own motor really, but then maybe it wouldn't be such a bargain ...

Vic.
K5, LightRoom 5
Sigma 8-16 Pentax DA 16-45 Pentax DA 55-300 Pentax 18-55WR Tamron 90 Di Macro Metz 44 AF-1
johnwhit
Posted 24/05/2011 - 11:29 Link
I wish Tamron would release the new AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SP Di USD in Pentax fit

John
PPG link

In LBA hiatus.
Posted 24/05/2011 - 11:46 Link
....Well it looks like my mind is made up. Have any of you had problems with the DA L opposed to DA lenses? I understand the differnces, just dont know if it is worth the extra money?
www.flickr.com/tmondhallie13
Pentax Kr -
Pentax DA 17-70mm f4 AL SDM
Pentax DA L 18-55mm
davex
Posted 24/05/2011 - 11:53 Link
For me having the matching hood does make the difference, you can get a generic, but it isn`t the same.
Also, you may find the quickshift function on the DA a major benefit in some circumstances.
So for these two things alone I would spend the extra.
I also suspect but have no evidence that resale values for the DA may be comparatively higher.

Davex.
K5 + 8mm-500mm zooms and primes
Please feel free to play with any images I post.
My flickr: link
fritzthedog
Posted 24/05/2011 - 12:50 Link
Tmondhallie wrote:
....Well it looks like my mind is made up. Have any of you had problems with the DA L opposed to DA lenses? I understand the differnces, just dont know if it is worth the extra money?

If you know the differences then it really is only down to personal preference - is the hood, quick shift and metal mount worth the extra to you? IQ is the same and you can actually buy a 'copy' hood rather than a generic if you want one

For instance copy paste this in to ebay

Lens Hood For Pentax PH-RBG DA 55-300mm 58MM Camera NEW

Have to be honest and say I have never used the quick shift on mine and the only reason I do not have the L version is that SRS had an amazing offer on the 'full' version when I bought mine

Looks to me at the moment that you can get the DA L for around £180 and will pay around £290 for the DA - so DA L + a £10 hood would be my choice

Carl
No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more
davex
Posted 24/05/2011 - 18:10 Link
Just to add to Mike-Ps;

Comment Image
K5 + 8mm-500mm zooms and primes
Please feel free to play with any images I post.
My flickr: link

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