New HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

Looks interesting. Having switched to Nikon for my ultra telephoto birding (Sigma 150-600mm) this might be a useful backup system. Shame not compatible with my K3 but maybe will be an excellent lightweight decent quality telephoto solution with say a KS1 or 2 for travelling. We will see.
Dave

weird decision to say it works on the k3-II but not the k-3.... just a software issue or hardware? I use my k-3 for lots of video and keep hoping for a serious video upgrade, and with a hole in my lens selection for video this lens would likely have been worth buying in the mean time..

£400 seems a little pricey for this considering the 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR is currently £279.00 on SRS.

Looking forward to the reviews as I'm always looking to replace my 55-300 DA L with a WR.

I'm really not happy if my (not very old) K3 won't be able to use the new generation (KAF4) mount. We buy into system cameras precisely because of a fully compatible system of lenses. Pentax, until now, have been superior to other makes in this respect. So is this the end of Ricoh software updates for other than 'current' models?

either that or there's a hardware issue we don't know about?
also possible there's an order of priority here and new firmware for older models is coming soon? one can hope that the k-3 isn't so far in the past that it gets ignored, but seriously, how many k-3 owners likely to spring for the "new" 55-300 when we don't have the video specs to use it vs the older 55-300's which we can get for a song and a dance used or old stock?
I kinda understand where they're going logic wise, but Ricoh should know some of us k-3 owners might spring for the new k-70 BECAUSE WE WANT the better video and if we wind up buying a new lens we'd like to be able to use it on BOTH bodies anyways... I notice there's no headphone jack here..can't help but wonder if there's another higher end video model coming out soon?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's where I'm at with my DAL 55-300. If this is a different motor and faster quieter focusing with less hunting it's not so expensive, net.

there is probably some firmware on the way to fix the problem

Yes, but only for the K-1, K-3 II, K-S2 and K-S1 (the K-70 being compatible from the off) according to the report : https://www.pentaxuser.com/news/pentax-launch-hd-da-55-300mm-f-4-5-6-3-ed-plm-wr...

Ricoh have history of adding odd things to Pentax mounts, like the extra pin on their film camera lenses that caused them to become stuck on Pentax cameras! Perhaps this new lens gets stuck on older Pentax cameras by strong electromagnetism!

It looks interesting and seems to suggest that Pentax are looking to satisfy the needs of videographers. It seems everything is being given its turn for attention.

I suppose there is a limit to how much progress can be made in electronic systems in order to stay competitive, and at the same time fully retain compatibility with older models. It is a bit disingenuous however to incorporate compatibility with say the KS-1 without flagging up this impending development at that camera's launch. We have just seen a tranche of new FF compatible lenses so if this is a real improvement why isn't it in those lenses? Or is it just to introduce everyday lenses that are smaller and lighter but not intended for the higher quality ones? This seems to be a trend with Pentax introducing the smallest DSLRs on the market to attract the mirrorless crowd, with compact lightweight lenses to suit.

I only bought my K3 on 29th January 2015 (1.18 firmware in it, manufactured November 2014 I think) when it was still current (although I knew an update was coming because of discounts)

IF the new KAF4 mount is an extra type for video then fine as I'm not particularly interested in video. As it is the lens has no aperture control for the K3 or the K5's.

IF it is the new mount for all future APS-C then I feel I've been stuffed by something they clearly knew was coming as they built facility for it in to their cheap KS models.

it may be Ricoh do a firmware update for more of us. After all they added most new GRII features to the old GR didn't they?

My problem is ( for some time) no Pentax UK around to tell us for sure what is happening. Perhaps the editors of this site could ask the anonymous people who supply test kit to clarify for us?

Probably get more useful info on this Bill from the US Pentax Forum as they seem to be given a higher priority and are 'closer to the coalface' than us back here in Blighty.

Personally, this new developed lens looks like it could be quite interesting particularly because of its potential improvement as a video lens although i'd have to upgrade from my K-50 to benefit from it. I'd be more interested though to know whether optically it was an improvement over the current model as the inferior f6.3 at 300mm is a step backwards compared to the current f5.8.

If the combination of K-70 plus this new 55-300 worked better for aircraft photography (even more so if it performed well with 1.4 convertor) then i'd probably buy the pairing...although i'd wait for about 6 months for the initial price froth to subside.

I guess though, that in the time since the DA 55-300 first came out the small drop in aperture has been more than compensated for by better high ISO performance?

You're right that the jump from f5.8 to f6.3 is not a big one but I currently use the Tamron 70-300 Di LD with a max aperture of f5.6 which in itself is limiting at times for aircraft shots...it would just feel that for a lens that might retail at 4x the price of the Tamron the Pentax was going in the wrong direction.

The new lens is lighter and overall more compact than the existing 55-300 (although is more dumpy in appearance as it is a larger diameter) and has 9 diaphragm blades compared to 6, also 14 elements in 11 groups compared to 12 in 8 so it seems like it will be better optically, just surprised that they didn't bring it in at f5.6.

Karlo

weight and balance also affect stability, and with telephotos, the trade off is OFTEN worth it since most people use telephotos in decent light and stop it down to get maximum dof and sharpness anyways....