Visit MPB Visit MPB Visit MPB

HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR

JonSchick
Posted 08/10/2013 - 08:06 Link
Tempting once the price settles...I've been caught out in poor weather with long telephotos more than any other type of lens. But a WR80-400 would be better!
Jon

Some occasional random stuff at The Photographers Block: link
Opethian
Posted 08/10/2013 - 12:04 Link
At £399 it looks like I will have to settle to wait for the price to go down and grab the 50-200WR instead.
MarkTaylor
Posted 09/10/2013 - 08:03 Link
I would have upgraded my 55-300 if the new version came with the DC motor as well as WR (or even just the DC motor) but I won't upgrade for WR alone. The noisy focusing is my only real problem with the existing lens, which is an absolute gem, optically speaking. Lack of WR isn't such an issue. Oh well.
My FlickrPentax K-5 • K-5 II • Sigma 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6 DC HSM • Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD ASL • SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 ED [IF] SDM • SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F/4-5.8 ED • SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] WR • Vivitar 100mm F/3.5 Macro AF • Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-2
Mike-P
Posted 09/10/2013 - 08:51 Link
MarkTaylor wrote:
I would have upgraded my 55-300 if the new version came with the DC motor as well as WR (or even just the DC motor) but I won't upgrade for WR alone. The noisy focusing is my only real problem with the existing lens, which is an absolute gem, optically speaking. Lack of WR isn't such an issue.

Exactly my thoughts.
Gravelrash
Posted 09/10/2013 - 11:55 Link
Opethian wrote:
At £399 it looks like I will have to settle to wait for the price to go down and grab the 50-200WR instead.

If it helps I struggle with the cost of Photography. Buying the 50-200WR was quite an investment on my budget but it is capable of impressing me constantly. I would not hesitate to recommend this lens. One of life's bargains.
Steve

Sometimes I'm serious and sometimes not, but I consider sarcasm an artform. Which is it today?
jules
Posted 10/10/2013 - 04:59 Link
Mike-P wrote:
MarkTaylor wrote:
I would have upgraded my 55-300 if the new version came with the DC motor as well as WR (or even just the DC motor) but I won't upgrade for WR alone. The noisy focusing is my only real problem with the existing lens, which is an absolute gem, optically speaking. Lack of WR isn't such an issue.

Exactly my thoughts.

I suppose the HD cooating may offer a slight increase in image quality in difficult lighting, and would be a good alternative to heavy Lenses for a light long Landscapers Lens. Thinking specifically of me here, I could be tempted once the price settles down but if Tamron wake up and smell the coffee, I'd take their 70-300 USD in a heartbeat, thats a lovely Lens for any money and a fab price too...

Just trying to say I put a higher value on the in lens motor than the Wr but obviously both would be nice, living in cumbria gives you webbed feet!
At the end of the day you can pick up the Tammy for £279, can't see the Pentax dropping quite that far to be honest.
It probably costs more to put in the gaskets/seals than it does the motor I'd reckon, I'd imagine theres quite a few in there but I'd happily pay £500 and not £400 for A HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR DC or SDM...
Cheers Jules...

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

www.exaggeratedperspectives.com
Edited by jules: 10/10/2013 - 05:18
Russ
Posted 11/10/2013 - 09:56 Link
jules wrote:
if Tamron wake up and smell the coffee, I'd take their 70-300 USD in a heartbeat, thats a lovely Lens for any money and a fab price too...

Just trying to say I put a higher value on the in lens motor than the Wr but obviously both would be nice, living in cumbria gives you webbed feet!
At the end of the day you can pick up the Tammy for £279, can't see the Pentax dropping quite that far to be honest.
It probably costs more to put in the gaskets/seals than it does the motor I'd reckon, I'd imagine theres quite a few in there but I'd happily pay £500 and not £400 for A HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR DC or SDM...

Definitely about time Tamron stuck the K mount on the 70-300 VC. Would instantly become the best xx-300 option available for K mount.
Lancer3397
Posted 11/10/2013 - 21:12 Link
MarkTaylor wrote:
I would have upgraded my 55-300 if the new version came with the DC motor as well as WR (or even just the DC motor) but I won't upgrade for WR alone. The noisy focusing is my only real problem with the existing lens, which is an absolute gem, optically speaking. Lack of WR isn't such an issue. Oh well.

+1. the current DA and even DAL is a stunning lens optically. I have had some great shots with it.
Pentax K3, DA 18-55 WR, Sigma 50-500 EX DG HSM, Pentax M-50, a bucket load of SD cards, some lights and a lightbox
AndrewH
Posted 12/10/2013 - 08:37 Link
MarkTaylor wrote:
I would have upgraded my 55-300 if the new version came with the DC motor as well as WR (or even just the DC motor) but I won't upgrade for WR alone. The noisy focusing is my only real problem with the existing lens, which is an absolute gem, optically speaking. Lack of WR isn't such an issue. Oh well.

+ Another. Can't help but think they missed a trick here. The DC motor on the 18-135 is great, and I too have some great shots taken with the 55-300. That would have been, for me, a must have (but must save up for) combination
gwing
Posted 12/10/2013 - 09:22 Link
Gravelrash wrote:

If it helps I struggle with the cost of Photography.

Don't worry about that. Whatever your budget there is always going to be someone with more expensive glass.

And pretty much any lens is a good lens when it is stopped down a bit
RayB
Posted 12/10/2013 - 10:39 Link
Opethian wrote:
At £399 it looks like I will have to settle to wait for the price to go down and grab the 50-200WR instead.

The 50-200WR is a constant in my everyday bag. It has given some great results and it's been in some pretty un-lens-friendly places.
kh1234567890
Posted 12/10/2013 - 12:18 Link
RayB wrote:
Opethian wrote:
At £399 it looks like I will have to settle to wait for the price to go down and grab the 50-200WR instead.

The 50-200WR is a constant in my everyday bag. It has given some great results and it's been in some pretty un-lens-friendly places.

Same here. I have both the DA55-300 and the DA50-200WR. Unless you really need the extra reach then IQ-wise there is not that much difference.
Jonathan-Mac
Posted 12/10/2013 - 19:17 Link
kh1234567890 wrote:
RayB wrote:
Quote:
At £399 it looks like I will have to settle to wait for the price to go down and grab the 50-200WR instead.

The 50-200WR is a constant in my everyday bag. It has given some great results and it's been in some pretty un-lens-friendly places.

Same here. I have both the DA55-300 and the DA50-200WR. Unless you really need the extra reach then IQ-wise there is not that much difference.

The last time I travelled far (New York in the spring) I was very, very close to getting a 50-200WR, not because it's WR, but because it's much smaller and lighter than my 55-300. The 55-300 takes up too much space and weighs too much for travelling now and stays at home. I took the M 135/3.5 instead for lonnger shots and was fairly happy with that, plus I used it on the film SLRs I took too.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
python118
Posted 12/10/2013 - 19:50 Link
MarkTaylor wrote:
I would have upgraded my 55-300 if the new version came with the DC motor as well as WR (or even just the DC motor) but I won't upgrade for WR alone. The noisy focusing is my only real problem with the existing lens, which is an absolute gem, optically speaking. Lack of WR isn't such an issue. Oh well.

Hi, a few weeks ago I made a comment about the 55 300 being noisy on focusing after hearing it on youtube it put me off a bit, few guys said it was no problem. It was a toss up against the tamron 28-300, so I emailed Microglobe and asked for their views on the two lenses, they said except for the tamron sp 90 the pentax 55-300 out performs most of the tamron lenses and said 55-300 was a exception quality lens. I have orded my 55-300 which will be here on Tuesday looking forward to using it.

Regards Dave
pendragonfalls
Posted 07/01/2016 - 14:50 Link
f5.8
1/1250
ISO 12800
@300

Holy thread revival..
Just got my copy of this lens. Must say, its a pleasure to use. Hand held at 300mm is pretty good.
Looking forward to going out to play with it now
Comment Image

Add Comment

To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.