HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE - No reviews

Has anyone bought this lens and reviewed it fully?

This has been out for a while now and yet I can find no reviews here or anywhere else (UK/USA/elsewhere) so I'm personally wary of purchasing it in case it does not perform.

As a first of its kind I would have thought that the various photo magazines or serious forums (including this one) would have tested it by now.

What gives?

Here's a 'hands-on' report from PF ...... link

It sounds like they found it a solid performer, but it doesn't sound like a significant step up in IQ over the previous version. The quieter 'Pulse' AF and aperture technology are the obvious gains. Also note that it can't be used on any camera model prior to the K-S1.

Received this lens today and thought I'd post some size comparison pics.

Top view of lens mounted onto K-S2 body, end view, fully extended. Lens size comparison: SMC Pentax-DA L 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR RE; SMC Pentax-DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR; SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro WR; HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE and SMC Pentax-FA 80-320mm F4.5-5.6.













My first impressions are that it is a lot 'stiffer' in construction than the 18-50 and 50-200 DA-L lenses and the 80-320 lens. In fact it feels similar in quality to the 100mm macro.

The other immediate impact is how eerily quiet it is! Especially compared to the 80-320 lens that is very loud (but quick). I'll post some photos once I've played with it a bit.

Given the focal range, thats an impressively compact size it 'folds' down to. Very handy for a small camera bag .... that plus a wide angle prime in a pocket would make a very convenient walking around kit. The construction of Pentax's latest lenses seems to be very solid. The lens barrel in your photo there looks similar in construction to that of my new D FA 28-105mm, and I'm very pleased that it is very solid with no looseness or significant play.

I recently bought the new DA 55-300 f4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE and find it a solid addition to the lens offerings.

The lens is quiet and fast focusing, and it does not seem to hunt, all benefits over the older 55-300 screw-drive versions. It is decently balanced on the K-3ii, but the zoom is pretty stiff and not smooth -- hopefully this will improve a bit with use.

I just got the PLM to replace the first-gen 55-300 (a snap at £250 on Black Friday from UK Amazon) and although no opportunity to go out shooting yet, it feels very good on the K-3II. The zoom ring is stiff but less so than the original was. It focuses closer with very snappy quiet focussing that doesn't hunt even in low light. The construction is very good with no play in the extended barrel, and I didn't have to make any fine adjustments to focus. First impression with a quick shot of a neighbour's car across the road is favourable, so I'm looking forward to testing it further and seeing how tracking has improved over the original, which was not all that great.

New vs. Old Pentax 55-300mm Autofocus Test courtesy of USA PF.