55-300 performance

mattox · 2013-05-26T18:09:44+0100

To not drag out on an old topic, ive taken my 55-300 through the tests, after disappointing first time results with the lens on holiday. I have looked into the lens functioning and have pushed the lens to its limits to see what best results i can get with it. I have found that the camera is doing its job on focusing the lens for you but the overall results are just way too soft. What does everyone think? I will add 2 images, 1 a test chart and 2, a picture of my dog, and let you be the judges.

Lenses for Pentax CamerasLenses for Pentax Ca...

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kh1234567890 kh1234567890

381 posts
15 years
Manchester

Posted 27/05/2013 - 12:20 Link

screwdriver222 wrote:
One test I did was to cellotape a newspaper page to a wall, making sure it was flat and shoot from a tripod at 90 degrees to it, using the timer. It showed my 55-300 gradually went out of focus from left to right. I got a replacement and that was fine.

My first copy did something similar. Pentax QA is terrible. The second one is much better.

Clock by kh1234567890, on Flickr

Flickr

Edited by kh1234567890: 27/05/2013 - 12:34

Algernon Algernon

8880 posts
16 years
Lancashire

Posted 27/05/2013 - 15:16 Link

This threads quite old but it contains quite a few example
shots.....

Some pics taken with the Pentax-DA SMC 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

LINK

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Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi

greypoint greypoint

140 posts
18 years

Posted 29/05/2013 - 10:00 Link

I've had 4 of these over the past few years and not really had problems with any [other than the cheaper version developing a slight judder]. If only they would update it with quiet/faster af and weatherproofing! Some examples with various cameras

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greypoint/sets/72157607104487487/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greypoint/sets/72157626116859099/