Pentax HD DA 55-300mm Lens with Pentax K-3, My Thoughts After Taking it for a Spin
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ค. 2024
- The official long name of this lens is the Pentax HD DA 55-300mm Lens F4-5.8 ED WR. All those letters mean things, but how does the lens stack up in the real world? Here in this video I talk about using the lens for the past week on all my bike rides. It offers great value for the money, and is a great choice if you are in the Pentax system looking to get into wildlife photography. It has some weaknesses, but I cover those in the video and how to best deal with them.
There is a newer version, the PLM version, that is said to be even better. If you find them for a similar price, I would recommend going that route. Otherwise, the lens holds its own as a budget telephoto lens!
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Good review! I loved the fact that you acknowledged the patient aspect of wildlife/birding photography. Studying and knowing the behaviour and patience will get you results. The telephoto reach helps too lol.
I already appreciated good wildlife pics, but now after trying it I do even more! I've seen some of your shots on your videos and FB group - well done! I'll get there. Or maybe not lol. Either way it's fun.
It's a decent lens, I've owned mine for the last few years but I don't use it often enough. I find at 300mm, it's sharp from 6.3 upwards, although, it's rare for me to go above F14. It gives a decent bokeh and when shooting at 6.3 or 7.1 zoomed in, the transition from 'in focus' to 'out of focus' is handled really well. I carry my Sigma 18-200mm with me far too often these days, so my 55-300mm spends most of its time in a drawer ☹️ Although, I'm just back from a week of camping in the middle of nowhere and I did use it on a few occasions.
Hi Snapppy, enjoyed the review. Your videos are deceptively simple but so well-crafted, i really appreciate them. I have owned the 55-300 DA and also the PLM version. The latter's improvements are in the silent motor and autofocus speeds and just a tad in image quality compared to the DA. Expensive upgrade but the stealth it gives is eerie!!
Thanks, I am learning a lot about making videos during the process. Have a long way to go still, but feels good to have efforts acknowledged!
The quiet focusing is pretty tempting. Coming from a bunch of old FA lenses, the noise of this one doesn't seem too bad, but then I had a 16-50 2.8 SDM lens and I actually thought the focus wasn't working because I couldn't hear it, lol. Seems like it would help not scare wildlife!
That’s actually my favorite lens for birds. I use it on my K-50. It’s Sharp at every setting I try. No fringing. Quick-shift reduces the incidence of noisy focus hunting.
Another amazing video 👌
Thank you!
Awesome review.
You forgot one variant of this lens: the DA 55-300mm f/4 to f/5.8. Like the DAL kit, it's not weather sealed, and it doesn't have the newer HD coating (can't really see the difference there), and yeah, it's just got that noisy screw drive AF, but it does have Quick Shift, which is awesome, and it can shoot at f/4.5 up to nearly 190mm, which is great to have in such an affordable lens.
Also, it's sharp enough (depending on your definition of "enough") at 300mm when stopped down just a little bit (f/6.3 or f/7.1), and it doesn't suffer from CA issues or bad flaring / low contrast in strong, head on or side on light.
That weather sealing though, probably makes the HD one the pick of the bunch, given the used prices.
Haha, so hard to keep track of all the variants. That's good to know.
@@snappiness they're all surprisingly good, no matter what variant. Great to see one of my favourite lenses getting a review (and it's quite rare to see any Pentax gear getting any attention over the past few years)
I got one of those. The thing about telephoto photography is it takes patience. Lots of patience. It's a good lens, much better than my old DA18-250mm zoom. I've got a few good shots with it and it has the reach I needed. Solid performer.
Yes, it does take lots of practice and patience. :) It's good for me to learn.
Meanwile I got the PLM too but especially on the K1/FF the non-PLM is a better small package solution as the picture circle is bigger and often sufficient for FF (or nearly FF)
Enjoyed your video “style” on and off the bike. I love my Pentax K-50; frustrating that Tamron / Sigma AND Pentax don’t support longer “zooms”; after 300mm, next Pentax is 150-450mm for about $1,800!
Thanks. I agree the lack of these lenses in the Pentax K lens system are a downer and setback for anyone that wants that extra reach. There are some legacy third-party AF lenses that while they don’t compete with the latest glass, seem to hold up strongly. I think there’s a sigma 150-500 and a 50-500 (nicknamed “bigma” from what I hear, haha).
Hey Snapppy~! Just wanted to say I really love the videos you're putting out, I've been subbed around the time you had 600 to 800 subs because of the 6 Megapixel Club videos. Your videos about old gear and what great photos are possible with them really speak to me as someone who can't afford the latest and greatest. It made me appreciate my gear more, made me take my mind off of drooling over the Nikon Z50, and just make photographs.
My experience with telephotos is with my 'ol Tamron 70-300mm "macro", the non-stabilized version, paired with my crop sensor Nikon bodies. What I'd say ate my favorite photos from that lens were of the blood moon and lunar eclipse that happened I think last February, and portraits of my friends and family. The only birds and wildlife I come across here are usually house sparrows and stray cats and dogs hahaha~!
Again, thanks for being a great inspiration and for the awesome videos~ Best wishes from Cebu~!!!
Thank you! You are very kind. Using older gear has really helped me get out of a rut with photography. Even though now I could probably get more expensive stuff if I saved up, I don't feel the need to, and that's a good feeling! Better to spend that time and money over experiences rather than extra fancy gear.
Greetings from Yokohama. I recently bought a Pentax 50-200 to attach, via adapter to my Pentax Q. 1100mm ff equivalent. I might try a 55-300, now, if I can get a reasonably priced one (which is quite likely on Amazon.jp).
The longest lens I put on my Q was a 135mm. Definitely needed a tripod haha. Have you shot anything at 1100mm? Curious what you're getting.
Used to own this lens on my ks2 took some great pics of insects and buzzards
I like my older SMC DA55-300 for travelling light. It is decent lens for that price and size.. For good telephoto images I prefer Sig100-300/4 and Sig50-500
I've read about those big guys. Seem like keepers! Kind of hard to find, but if I ever did I would try one out.
@@snappiness try to get DG versions if you want those.. fortunately they are not overly expensive on 2nd hand market.. but yes with K mount its harder to find some. And even harder if you only want well-centered and correctly focusing unit :)
Looks like ET sitting on your bike around 3:03 🙂
I use my old Tamron 75-300 I bought it in 2005 the same time I bought * istDL. The lens gets sharp at F- 11 and takes useable wildlife pictures you just have to work harder but it is doable. At least mine has a Apature ring as it was designed for film cameras with autofocus and A mode
I think I know the model you are talking about. I've owned the newer Tamron variants. The neat thing about yours and those is that they are full frame compatible! I used it in my k-1. It showed its age with the resolution, but in a pinch it'll do just fine! Also the Pentax FA 100-300 wasn't too shabby either.
How does this lens perform on the Pentax K10D, and can it be found cheaply second-hand? Or are there alternative lenses you would recommend?
I don't feel you have to get to f11 for decent photos with the lens. I've had both version 1 and version 2 getting excellent images even handheld. I found it even works well with the 1.4 TC when there is enough light (K3). I have two issues with the lens though. It doesn't focus especially close and I found that a limitation. And in low contrast situations like whale photography I had too many missed shots. It is a great travel lens a bit too short for bird photography. When I take students to Costa Rica I have brought it with me and the WR (version 2) means I can feel confident You won't get condensation or rsin in the lens. Very nice travel lens but the Pentax 150-450 is usually my go to wildlife lens. Nice review!
Shoot wide open Aperture Priority, then use exposure compensation. Screw the iso.
I have the older DA 55-300mm f5.8 and of all the tele zooms I have this one is the sharpest, and best color saturated one(two) I own, I only buy used gear and from experience, this lens is not often on the market because it is so good, The Pentax 55-300mm is sharper than any tele zoom Pentax has ever made. It is also better than the Nikon 70-300mm or the older Nikon 75-300mm . Try setting the P line to sport. I have found that my K3's, K5's and K50's all set the shutter to 1/400th with this lens on. I l set the aperture to f8 and ISO to auto and I'm good to go.
Good tip, nice setup. That 400th and f8 would give good results
Do you think this would be decent for lower light street photography?
If your camera is newish and can handle the higher ISOs, then it could work. It's just gonna be tough if you need the shutter speed high enough to freeze movement. Wide end F4 isn't too bad, but you're gonna be pushing it with the long end. Depending on your needs, and if you're trying to keep the cost low, you could also look at some vintage telephoto primes with a larger aperture.
Hello
Well hey there.