Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras | 
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| Brand: Pentax
Category: Photography
Buy New: See price in cart
New (9) Used (3) from $300.00
Rating:  43 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Optical Zoom: 5.5
Maximum Focal Length: 300
Minimum Focal Length: 55
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 2.8 x 2.8 x 4.4
MPN: B0012QCYNM
Model: B0012QCYNM
UPC: 000270751411
EAN: 0000270751411
ASIN: B0012QCYNM
Release Date: May 21, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 2 months
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| Features:
| • | Extreme telephoto range zoom lens | | • | PENTAX SP coating protects the exposed lens elements | | • | ED elements compensate for chromatic aberration | | • | Developed specifically for PENTAX digital SLRs | | • | Focal length equivalent to 82.5mm to 450mm in the 35mm format |
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Product Description
- Extreme telephoto range zoom lens- Focal length equivalent to 82.5mm-450mm in the 35mm format- PENTAX(R) SP coating protects exposed lens elements- ED elements compensate for chromatic aberration- Developed specifically for PENTAX(R) digital SLR cameras
Amazon.com Product Description
The versatile Pentax DA 55-300mm zoom lens offers a focal length equivalent of 82.5 to 450mm in the 35mm format, making it ideal for moderate to long sports and wildlife shots. The lens is outfitted with multiple ED glass elements, which are designed to minimize chromatic aberration and makes images look crisper and sharper than ever before. The Pentax Super Protective coating, meanwhile, protects the exposed lens elements against dirt and contamination. Other features include a focusing ring that permits easy manual focusing, a 4.6-foot close focusing distance, and a 58mm filter diameter. Specially adapted for high-quality Pentax and Samsung digital SLR cameras, the lens carries a one-year warranty. Specifications
- Focal length: 55-300mm
- Maximum aperture: f/4 to 5.8
- Minimum aperture: f/22 to 32
- Lens construction: 12 elements in 8 groups
- Angle of view: 29 to 5.4 degrees (when used with Pentax digital SLR camera body)
- Number of diaphragm blades: 6
- Minimum focusing distance: 4.6 feet
- Maximum magnification: 0.28x
- Filter diameter: 58mm
- Diaphragm control: Fully automatic
- Hood: PH-RBG 58mm
- Objective cap: O-LC58
- Case: S80-160
- Corresponding AF mounts: Pentax and Samsung
- Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter and 4.4 inches long
- Weight: 15.5 ounces
- Warranty: 1 year
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 43
 Great for its Price Point September 3, 2010
Erik J. Malvick (Davis, CA)
This is a lens I purchased to replace a Tamron 70-300mm lens that wasn't cutting it for me at the long end of its range.
The Pentax lens here is a fantastic lens for its price. It isn't a limited, and for $350, you shouldn't expect perfection. However, if you are a hobbyist, like myself, and you'd like to be able to shoot your camera for 300 mm (in addition to all those between), this lens works well.
I've found that its strengths lie at the long end rather than the short end like the Tamron did, and overall it works well over the full 55 to 300 mm range. The other thing I like about it is that it covers that 55 to 70 mm range that some of the other non-Pentax lens don't cover, yet could be needed if you are adding such a lens to complement the kit lens with your camera.
Overall, I'd say this lens is more of the type you will use in a longer setting, meaning shooting towards the infinite end of the focus range. Its minimum focus distance is not too close, and when you are on that order of distance (i.e. < 50 ft), I actually think the Tamron lens was a bit sharper and included the ability to focus at a more macro type level. This lens does not provide that ability, although an extension tube could help.
I do like how this lens allows you to manually adjust focus while the autofocus in engaged. This is something all camera and lens manufacturers should strive for. It is also nice in terms of size. For a 55 to 300 range, it is actually pretty light, mostly due to its slower aperture settings f4-5.8 at the fastest. That isn't great for low light settings, but then few zoom lenses are. I use the lens for landscapes or elements of landscapes, and find that a tripod is quite useful anyway since at 300 mm, one really is working at the limits of their ability to handhold a shot anyway. It is easier, however, given the smaller size of this lens just not ideal.
 Excellent lens. August 12, 2010
S. Medina (Richmond, VA United States)
I have used this lens on several occasions since purchasing it and I am very satisfied with its performance and picture quality.
Good deal for the price June 13, 2010
J. Buckwalter (Pa)
Purchased this lens for a Pentax K2000 so my wife would have a 300mm zoom for her cruise of the inter-waterways of southeast Alaska. She does not like to take pictures. With only a half hour training session on how to use both the camera and lens she came home with only 500 hundred photos and no frustrations in using it. Great lens for the price.
This was a gift June 4, 2010
Thia B. (Mpls, MN USA)
This item was a gift but the recipient seems to be very pleased with it. Once she was shown how to take off the existing lens and place this one, she has had no problems and is very happy with the quality of the photos, not to mention that she no longer has to get within 3 feet to take a picture of a bird or other wildlife.
An Exellent Budget Option April 13, 2010
V. Waldron (Indiana)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The DA 55-300 is a great budget option to get to 300mm. It is quite sharp throughout its range, is compact, light and benefits from the in body shake reduction that is present in Pentax dSLRs. Just a quick comment about the shake reduction. I am able to shoot comfortably at 300mm and 1/8 second and have very sharp images.
The DA 55-300 includes a lens hood and has quick shift capability in which you can tweak the focus manually, without flipping a switch on the lens. In my experience, this is quite useful as it is easy to have the camera focus on a branch rather than the bird you are interested in.
The negatives of this lens are three: first of all, it has a maximum aperture of f4-5.8. This means that shooting low light is pretty much out, although by pushing the iso on your camera, you do have some ability to take photos in these situations. The lens does stay at f4 -4.5 until 210mm. Second, the auto focus is noisy. Third, the auto focus tends to hunt in low light. I have used this on my K20 and K7 and it is much more prone to hunt on the K20 than the K7.
All in all, this is an excellent lens and to beat it, you would have to move up in price significantly to the DA *60-250 f4 or, the Sigma 100-300 f4, both of which are much more expensive (and bulkier) options.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 43
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