Amazon Da 55 -300mm deal

What?! Half price lenses?! When was this....

This is ancient history now! Amazon had them at £135 for a day or so! Keep watching these forums and you will get tip-offs very quickly in future!

Regards
David

Oh, the shame! I was trying to decide between the 55-300mm and the sigma 50-200mm OS HSM =/

Depends what you want to use it for, but the Pentax 55-300 has fabulous image quality, but probably focusses on AF slower than the Sigma. I can only compare the Pentax 55-300 with a Sigma DG APO 70-300 (I have the Pentax, my son has the Sigma) and the Pentax blows the Sigma away for image quality (sharpness, colour and contrast). It is also better built than the Sigma. I would buy the Pentax even if it has gone back up to normal price.

Regards
David

I was looking at the reviews for the Pentax and whilst it does seem to have lovely IQ, the thing that interested me the most about the sigma was the HSM and OS. The sheer noise the Pentax produces when focussing just seems horrendous!

It is quite noisy but i have used it for bird shots in a hide only 2m away from the birds and it did not upset them in the slightest! The noise is subjective and I suspect it is noticed by the photographer more than it is by others.

Regards
David

Ive got the 55-300mm and I can tell you its one of the best lenses I have had and got.
some of the shots ive taken with it are some of my best

do not for get it has quick shift so noise can be kept to a minimum

Is the difference between DA and DAL just the plastic vs metal mount and the quick shift? and why would quick shift reduce noise?

The DA also has a hood and usually a soft case.

Quick shift would reduce noise as less AF would be required. The lack of a hood with the DA L version is a non-issue as you can buy one that is virtually identical on ebay for a couple of quid. The value of a soft case is also debatable. The plastic mount appears to be a non-issue as it is very durable. This leaves quick shift and the focus scale printed on the lens as the only real advantages. To counter this the DA L has two big things in its favour - it is much cheaper and also lighter.

I wouldn't recommend one over the other - it is down to personal choice.

Regards
David

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, noise noise... I thought you mean't image noise. Although that would be nice, £80 for a little more noise is a bit tempting.. as long as the IQ is the same, I think I might as well go for the DA L

The case protects the lens and is essential with this lens IMHO

"The plastic mount appears to be a non-issue as it is very durable."Ha! Ha! That made me laugh!!! I don't think the seller of this lens on ebay would agree with you! It's a DAL that he's listed wrong link

First one I have seen ... I have however seen plenty of metal mount lenses with the same problem so I doubt it is of major concern.

I've never heard of anyone on this forum breaking a DA L plastic mount - it would take some serious mis-use to do this! Considering all of the kit lenses with recent Pentax entry-level DSLR's came with plastic mounts, if there was an issue I'm sure we would know about it by now.

As far as the soft case goes, it would do nothing for me as my lens is kept on tha camera and stored in its own soft compartment in my backpack, so I would never use the case on the DA version. As I said before the choice of DA L or DA is down to cost and personal choice. I don't think anyone should imply that the plastic mount is an issue when clearly it isn't.

Regards
David