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

The Pentax SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED is a viable choice when it comes to an affordable long range tele lens. The resolution figures are pretty decent and in field conditions it shines with a snappy contrast characteristic.

Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8

This lens has the less-than-substantial look, feel, and pricing of a typical kit zoom, but has a few important tricks up its sleeve. It offers, for starters, an extra long reach out to 300mm, significantly more than the 55-200mm budget tele zooms from Canon, Sigma, Tamron and others.

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

My version is actually the DA-L variant which is largely the same (identical optically) except for having a plastic mount and not coming with a hood. I might as well start out by saying - I like this lens.

plenty sharp; not heavy; surprisingly rugged

Could be faster