Kobie I used my this morning photographing surfers, Pelicans and Dolphins at Newport Beach CA today. My most used lens since I bought it replacing my Tamron 75 -300 screw mount lens
Got the 55-300 PLM soon after the K70 four years ago. Absolutely no regrets. It now lives on the KP and the Sigma 17-50 on the K70 covers the universe of the landscape world. My limited close up/macro need is satisfied with the 55-300. OK, I was just going to agree with everything you said. Long-winded maybe but I don't shoot videos that you would have to watch!
This lens has insane price/performance ratio. Compact collapsible body that works well and still feels well-built. Fast noiseless AF. More than decent IQ if you can stop down. Lenses like the 70-300 Fuji XF are surely good, but 2.5x the price and 1.5x the weight and bulk of the PLM.
Thank you for pointing out that a telephoto zoom lens can be used for landscape photography. I use a tele zoom almost 95% of the time for landscape work. To quote the old photographer's mantra, "show one subject clearly". Great job on the Blue Birds.
Yes, I completely agree, this lens is an excellent universal tool for the relevant tasks. Sharp, all-weather, light. I have been using it for more than a year and am very satisfied. However, how I wanted to use it with an autofocus teleconverter HD PENTAX DA 1.4x., but remembering your video about an unsuccessful bundle with 55 * 300, I postpone the purchase every time.
Good overview of this awesome versatile lightweight lens. I have the Da 300mm f4 which is a high end lens, it's a superlative lens with fantastic image quality and short focusing distance for such a long lens the separation of the subject at f4. However this ff lens is heavy. I bought the 55-300MM on sale. I was curious of the PLM drive, the zoom versatility. I couldn't be happier with this lens in my arsenal of lens available. This lens excels in portability, versatility and image quality. My Da 300mm is a wonderful lens but it's heavy. The Da 55-300MM can always be in the camera bag, just in case you need it? The focus is lightening fast. So this little bargain lens, stays with me more of the time than the more expensive 300mm f4 which is used for long-range task specific use. In a nut shell this lens exceeds expectations, a no brainer for any Pentax shooter to buy. It's a gem of a lens ✨️
I do want one as it is ideal for travel. Gifted one to a family member a few years back. AF speed absolutely trounces my DA*300. Only downside is that the AF isn't as good with the 1.4x TC.
$400 USD is great for that. My Sony 70-350mm cost $900 and is good, but not 2x better. A 50-135mm f/2.8 PLM and this lens would be a nice combo for indoor and outdoor sports photography.
Good job describing the lens. I find your videos super helpful! I have an old Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG which has taken a huge beating over the last 10 years and it is pretty loud. Hunts a lot in low light but it has served me well. Thinking this 55-300 may be a good upgrade. Thoughts? Thanks for the information. 😊
@@KobieMC Currently a K-50. Saving to buy either a K-3iii or a K-1 Mii. I'm thinking I probably stick with K-3iii for the reach and since most of my glass is DA. Thanks 👍🏼
@@DeCaboRojoPR Okay, that works then. I wanted to make sure you were using a KAF 4 body so you could control the aperture of the 55-300 PLM. Sounds like you have a good plan! If you mainly have crop glass, I'd stick with a crop body. The K-1/II has an APS-C crop mode but it drops the MP to 15 which is just under the K-50 MegaPixels.
I have the Pentax 55-300 ED. Fair lens. But very soft on the long end, say between 200-300 range. Not sure if it is the same lens you are referring to. It does not focus close, so I assume they are two different lenses.
The red ring ED WR is not the same as the PLM ED WR RE version. The PLM is the replacement for the red ring ED. It has silent and lightning quick AF. But the aperture is electronically controlled so you'll need at least a K-50 to use it at its maximum potential.
Other than the autofocus and the image quality could the same be said about the HD PENTAX DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR Lens? Yes kobi I saw your comparison videos and I can clearly see the value. Only reason I ask is for the poor hobbyist or the beginners who now get it at a cheaper price because this one is so hot right now.
What do you think about the 18-185 or 18-270? What I dislike with the 55-300 is because of the crop factor (I have a k-70) it's often too close for othert type of photography and I don't always carry my 18-55.
The 18-135 is decent. The AF isn't nearly as fast as the PLM. The 18-135 is on the wider end of the spectrum as well. This all comes down to what and where you're going to be shooting and what opportunities may arise in that environment. The 18-270 is okay, but for the image quality across the focal range, I'd take the 18-135 or 55-300 instead.
I love the 18-135. The 18-270, or at least my copy, sucks compared to that or to the Sigma 18-250 which was my former go-to with slow focusing, focus hunting and color fringing.
I haven't used the 18-270, but from the IQ on the 18-135, I would stay away, depending on your style! There are times the 18-135 is just fine, especially if there is a central subject. For landscape/wide purposes, it's not the best, as the edges are VERY soft.. so you either reduce your wide angle view to something like 25-30mm... but then, you aren't really using the 18mm. Defeats the purpose. At 135mm, the image is pretty good when it comes to a centrally located subject., the edges are really really bad. I tend to usually want to use the widest or longest focal length in my zoom lenses (I like wide, or really zommed-in). But, I still like to carry this lens (18-135mm) around because it's a very decent performer. I REALLY like the DC motor. No, it isn't the fastest, but it is quiet and VERY accurate. I have zerio hunting on that lens, it locks and bang, it's on. Compared to my D-FA 100mm Macro WR, it feels much quicker and safer to use. The 100mm macro WR is so sharp, but it hunts, isn't very positive in focus and often locks onto the wrong thing (maybe too precise? or my own lack of skill)... 18-135mm won't give me the image quality, but at least I get more keepers because it forgives more. From my own experience with that "one-lens-to-rule-them-all" style 18-250/270/300.... image quality is usually abysmal. Soft all around at almost every focal length, fringing, poor focus lock, etc...
I just bought it, ive taken a few sample shots, its good, not great, not tack sharp especially approaching 300mm- soft at f.8 on tripod no shake reduction raw shooting orchid innards... I have a fairly inexpensive sigma apo dg f4-5.6 70-300 that is just as sharp if not sharper- lens was half the price of the 55-300-plm maybe I got a bad copy? recieved the lens yesterday... Like I said its good but not stellar. Shooting on K3 Raw manual tripod.
@@KobieMC stinks camera cant do fine focus adjustment on its own, we will look into it this week. question was your lens front or back focusing? Thanks have a good week, aloha from West Michigan Eh 😉
Essentially the lenses wouldn't replace eachother since one (Sigma) is a full telephoto zoom and the 55-300 PLM is a normal to telephoto zoom. If you're strictly thinking of the telephoto aspect, stick with the Sigma. If you want versatility and lightning quick AF, then the 55-300 PLM. However, the sigma is a fixed F/4 aperture and the 55-300 is F/4.5-6.3. Like I said, neither one is a replacement.
@@KobieMC i am a bit confused if i should get this as upgrade over kit lens 50-200 Da L, If the 200 plus range is not as usable for some people. Autofocus is maybe not so important factor for me.
@@sidundead13 Which PENTAX camera do you have? I haven't used my DA L 50-200 WR since getting the 55-300. It's sharper than the 50-200 is across the board. I ended up selling the 50-200 and have no regrets.
Pretty much my go to lens for 90% of what I shoot!
Kobie
I used my this morning photographing surfers, Pelicans and Dolphins at Newport Beach CA today. My most used lens since I bought it replacing my Tamron 75 -300 screw mount lens
Great lens for it's price!
Got the 55-300 PLM soon after the K70 four years ago. Absolutely no regrets. It now lives on the KP and the Sigma 17-50 on the K70 covers the universe of the landscape world. My limited close up/macro need is satisfied with the 55-300. OK, I was just going to agree with everything you said. Long-winded maybe but I don't shoot videos that you would have to watch!
Best bang for the buck Pentax zoom!
This lens has insane price/performance ratio. Compact collapsible body that works well and still feels well-built. Fast noiseless AF. More than decent IQ if you can stop down. Lenses like the 70-300 Fuji XF are surely good, but 2.5x the price and 1.5x the weight and bulk of the PLM.
I am going on a month long cruise with photo excursions, so it was Between the Pentax 150-450 orrrrr the HD 55-300 PLM. thank you nailed it.
Thank you for pointing out that a telephoto zoom lens can be used for landscape photography. I use a tele zoom almost 95% of the time for landscape work. To quote the old photographer's mantra, "show one subject clearly". Great job on the Blue Birds.
Thank you 🙂
Yes, I completely agree, this lens is an excellent universal tool for the relevant tasks. Sharp, all-weather, light. I have been using it for more than a year and am very satisfied. However, how I wanted to use it with an autofocus teleconverter HD PENTAX DA 1.4x., but remembering your video about an unsuccessful bundle with 55 * 300, I postpone the purchase every time.
I have the PLM on my K3iii, the PLM is Epic. 24-70 on my other SLR....don't need to change 90% of the time. :) Great video.😍😎
I bought one last week. I haven't had a chance to use it in earnest yet, but this is encouraging.
Nailed it! Nice vid again.
Thank you! 🙂
Thanks..this was informative, the 55-300 lives on my K3 III, it takes much better pictures than I can.
Good overview of this awesome versatile lightweight lens. I have the Da 300mm f4 which is a high end lens, it's a superlative lens with fantastic image quality and short focusing distance for such a long lens the separation of the subject at f4. However this ff lens is heavy. I bought the 55-300MM on sale. I was curious of the PLM drive, the zoom versatility. I couldn't be happier with this lens in my arsenal of lens available. This lens excels in portability, versatility and image quality. My Da 300mm is a wonderful lens but it's heavy. The Da 55-300MM can always be in the camera bag, just in case you need it? The focus is lightening fast. So this little bargain lens, stays with me more of the time than the more expensive 300mm f4 which is used for long-range task specific use. In a nut shell this lens exceeds expectations, a no brainer for any Pentax shooter to buy. It's a gem of a lens ✨️
on the k3iii is really a very good lens. I am not a video one but I will retry soon. Photo side, I love it !
I do want one as it is ideal for travel. Gifted one to a family member a few years back. AF speed absolutely trounces my DA*300. Only downside is that the AF isn't as good with the 1.4x TC.
Such a beast paired on the K-3 iii
$400 USD is great for that. My Sony 70-350mm cost $900 and is good, but not 2x better. A 50-135mm f/2.8 PLM and this lens would be a nice combo for indoor and outdoor sports photography.
Good job describing the lens. I find your videos super helpful! I have an old Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG which has taken a huge beating over the last 10 years and it is pretty loud. Hunts a lot in low light but it has served me well. Thinking this 55-300 may be a good upgrade. Thoughts? Thanks for the information. 😊
Which camera body?
@@KobieMC Currently a K-50. Saving to buy either a K-3iii or a K-1 Mii. I'm thinking I probably stick with K-3iii for the reach and since most of my glass is DA. Thanks 👍🏼
@@DeCaboRojoPR Okay, that works then. I wanted to make sure you were using a KAF 4 body so you could control the aperture of the 55-300 PLM. Sounds like you have a good plan! If you mainly have crop glass, I'd stick with a crop body. The K-1/II has an APS-C crop mode but it drops the MP to 15 which is just under the K-50 MegaPixels.
I have the Pentax 55-300 ED. Fair lens. But very soft on the long end, say between 200-300 range. Not sure if it is the same lens you are referring to. It does not focus close, so I assume they are two different lenses.
The red ring ED WR is not the same as the PLM ED WR RE version. The PLM is the replacement for the red ring ED. It has silent and lightning quick AF. But the aperture is electronically controlled so you'll need at least a K-50 to use it at its maximum potential.
Other than the autofocus and the image quality could the same be said about the HD PENTAX DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR Lens? Yes kobi I saw your comparison videos and I can clearly see the value. Only reason I ask is for the poor hobbyist or the beginners who now get it at a cheaper price because this one is so hot right now.
Overall, yes the same could be said. Good call!
Yeah great little ends
What do you think about the 18-185 or 18-270? What I dislike with the 55-300 is because of the crop factor (I have a k-70) it's often too close for othert type of photography and I don't always carry my 18-55.
The 18-135 is decent. The AF isn't nearly as fast as the PLM. The 18-135 is on the wider end of the spectrum as well. This all comes down to what and where you're going to be shooting and what opportunities may arise in that environment. The 18-270 is okay, but for the image quality across the focal range, I'd take the 18-135 or 55-300 instead.
I love the 18-135.
The 18-270, or at least my copy, sucks compared to that or to the Sigma 18-250 which was my former go-to with slow focusing, focus hunting and color fringing.
@@NoelArmourson Thanks for the insight! I'll go with the 18-135
I haven't used the 18-270, but from the IQ on the 18-135, I would stay away, depending on your style!
There are times the 18-135 is just fine, especially if there is a central subject. For landscape/wide purposes, it's not the best, as the edges are VERY soft.. so you either reduce your wide angle view to something like 25-30mm... but then, you aren't really using the 18mm. Defeats the purpose. At 135mm, the image is pretty good when it comes to a centrally located subject., the edges are really really bad. I tend to usually want to use the widest or longest focal length in my zoom lenses (I like wide, or really zommed-in).
But, I still like to carry this lens (18-135mm) around because it's a very decent performer. I REALLY like the DC motor. No, it isn't the fastest, but it is quiet and VERY accurate. I have zerio hunting on that lens, it locks and bang, it's on. Compared to my D-FA 100mm Macro WR, it feels much quicker and safer to use. The 100mm macro WR is so sharp, but it hunts, isn't very positive in focus and often locks onto the wrong thing (maybe too precise? or my own lack of skill)... 18-135mm won't give me the image quality, but at least I get more keepers because it forgives more.
From my own experience with that "one-lens-to-rule-them-all" style 18-250/270/300.... image quality is usually abysmal. Soft all around at almost every focal length, fringing, poor focus lock, etc...
I use mine for just about everything except macro photography. If mine broke I would buy another one without hesitation.
Hey prof. Do you have any pentax camera that's not being used? I wanted to replace my old kx
My K-30 isn't in use because the battery needs replacing and it won't focus with the viewfinder. Only live view.
I just bought it, ive taken a few sample shots, its good, not great, not tack sharp especially approaching 300mm- soft at f.8 on tripod no shake reduction raw shooting orchid innards... I have a fairly inexpensive sigma apo dg f4-5.6 70-300 that is just as sharp if not sharper- lens was half the price of the 55-300-plm maybe I got a bad copy? recieved the lens yesterday... Like I said its good but not stellar.
Shooting on K3 Raw manual tripod.
Check the focus adjustment. Mine had to be adjusted.
@@KobieMC stinks camera cant do fine focus adjustment on its own, we will look into it this week.
question was your lens front or back focusing?
Thanks have a good week, aloha from West Michigan Eh 😉
@@krustysurfer It was front focusing.
@@KobieMC thx, ive noticed slight back focusing so im going to tweak it this week at some point, thanks for the help. 👍
I wonder, as the owner of the K-3-3, is it worth changing the Sigma APO EX 100-300/4 to this lens?
Essentially the lenses wouldn't replace eachother since one (Sigma) is a full telephoto zoom and the 55-300 PLM is a normal to telephoto zoom. If you're strictly thinking of the telephoto aspect, stick with the Sigma. If you want versatility and lightning quick AF, then the 55-300 PLM. However, the sigma is a fixed F/4 aperture and the 55-300 is F/4.5-6.3. Like I said, neither one is a replacement.
@@KobieMC I'm in telephoto range for now, so 300mm is my main goal. So, you think it's fine to stick with Sigma 100-300/4 now?
@@igor_timofeev The EX series of Sigma's are the top class for that era. The 100-300 F/4 EX is a very good super sharp lens. I'd stick with it
Good for the K1 full frame?
In crop mode yes. But it's very limited in which focal length will have minimal vignette in full frame mode
From 55 to about 200 there's significant vingetting.
is it really soft for above 200/250 focal length ? i was surpised on forums, the kit lens 50-200 DA L is rated as good as this
My copy isn't really soft at 300 wide open. But there have been some who got copies that were fairly soft until F/8 at 250-300 mm.
@@KobieMC i am a bit confused if i should get this as upgrade over kit lens 50-200 Da L, If the 200 plus range is not as usable for some people. Autofocus is maybe not so important factor for me.
@@sidundead13 Which PENTAX camera do you have? I haven't used my DA L 50-200 WR since getting the 55-300. It's sharper than the 50-200 is across the board. I ended up selling the 50-200 and have no regrets.
@@KobieMC I have a K500 but will end up getting the K3 mark 3 most likely next month
@siddharth parmar Then you will want the HD 55-300 PLM for the K-3 Mark III. It's an amazing combo.