Tamron or Pentax budget telephoto lens?

I'm looking to buy my first lens to supplement my 18-55 kits lens and had settled on the Tamron 70-300MM F4-5.6 DI LD MACRO from SRS. I've read lots of user reviews online I am aware of the Tamron issues beyond 200, but for my money I think the Tamron is my best bet.

I have however found the Pentax SMC DAL 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED lens (new - split from a kit) for £30 more. Now I know the Tamron has the Macro mode, but is the Pentax any better and worth sacrificing the macro and paying the extra £30? I have worked out this Pentax has a plastic mount and no lens hood as it's the budget version.

As I have never bought a second lens until now, and to me £120-£150 is a big outlay, I'd appreciate a second opinion.

Thanks

The Tamron is very good but the Pentax is better in terms of IQ. If the macro feature isn't so important (the Pentax will focus quite close but not as near as the Tamron) then spend the extra £30, get a cheapo hood from eBay and enjoy.

The DA 55-300mm is probably the best lens in that range by far. It is certainly superior to the Tamron and Sigma offering. The plastic mount shouldn't be a concern and a cheap version of the hood can be had off Ebay for £6. I have a couple of lenses in the 300mm range which cost 5 times as much but for the difference in image quality compared to price I would take the DA 55-300mm every time.

I remember when I was trying to decide between the DA 55-300, or a cheaper offering from Sigma or Tamron. Then one of the forum members here (ChrisA) posted this shot of the Red Arrows link taken with the DA 55-300, and my mind was made up !

Its a very good lens and worth the bit extra. I use mine a lot.

Cheers,

/Ian

I haven't tried the Pentax lens, but I have the Tamron. It's nice enough, but I don't like the purple fringing that I get on some shots.

I have both. Whilst the Tamron is an excellent lense for the money the Pentax 55-300 is in another league altogether and unbelievable value for money. No Brainer. Get the Pentax before it goes.

i have the d a l 55-300 can,t fault it i have found a tamron hood to fit it aswell

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/shoreham-airshow-14442

This may or may not help you decide

Regards mm

I upgraded from the Tamron to the Pentax, Pentax much better IQ and quickshift, only miss the 1:2 macro the Tammy has, but in all other ways the Pentax easily wins.

Davex.

The DAL (budget) version has no quickshift.

Just making the OP aware of this.

I've owned both and they are both excellent value for money. I do a lot of aviation photography and have had similar results from the two. The deal on offer at £149 at Park Cameras for the Pentax 55-300 would be the one to go for I think.

Dave

Thank you for all the responses, I ordered the Pentax lens from Park Cameras for £150 on the 26th having read mph555l's post. I have however had an email that they are out of stock but they've offered to order me one in from their supplier. For the price I'm happy to wait the 7-10 days it may take to be delivered.

I also managed to get the Metz 36 (iteration 4) flash I decided on (again price point) from the SRS ebay store for £8 less than their website, which otherwise was the cheapest I could find it, with free 24hr delivery. So a good few days deal shopping all told.

And I'm aware the Park Cameras lens is the DAL model, lightweight and no quickshift, and is also not weather resistant, but as I have a K-M it's not a major issue.

I'm slowly getting my head round what all the lens letters mean!

Thanks again.

I've been following this topic, as I had much the same original question - and the same budget constraint! The replies have been very helpful to me (as a lurker rather than a contibutor) as I have be weighing up the merits of Tamron/Sigma/Pentax and I think my mind is now made up. Might miss the macro, but so what!

The DAL version comes without a hood; so that's the first thing to buy now.

I posted a couple of shots taken last weekend with the Tamron 70-300 here:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/not-bad-for-a-cheapo-lens--24882

Dave