What is the difference?

Can someone please let me know the difference between these lenses as I am in the process of elimination before purchase?

Pentax SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

and

Pentax SMC DAL 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED

Many Thanks

John P

The DA has a metal mount, comes with lenshood included and also has QuickShift - the ability to use manual focus whilst still set to AF.

The DAL is the same optically, but no lens hood, no QickShift and a plastic mount.

The lens hood and Quick Shift are worth the extra IMHO, but if funds are limited then buy a generic lens hood to go with the DAL version.

Just search the forum, it has been discused couple times, some examples:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/da-55-300-zooms-16974/p-0#comm_175297 https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/da--vs---dal-19868/p-0#comm_212697

DAL is the lightweight version and Pentax has excluded some things to made it lighter and cheaper.
- it doesn't come with a hood
- Plastic lens mount instead of metal
- no quick-shift (focusing "clutch" that enables manual focus while the camera/lens is in auto focus)

John has clicked "add coment" first...

In either case it is an excellent lens and great value for money.

DA also comes with a protective cloth pouch .. DAL does not.