{"id":11085,"date":"2014-01-19T10:05:23","date_gmt":"2014-01-19T18:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wkoopmans.ca\/notebook\/?p=11085"},"modified":"2014-01-19T10:13:12","modified_gmt":"2014-01-19T18:13:12","slug":"hd-pentax-da-55-300mm-f4-5-8-ed-wr-user-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wkoopmans.ca\/notebook\/?p=11085","title":{"rendered":"HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR user review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DA55-300HD_WR_wkoopmans\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Introduction<\/h3>\n

The HD PENTAX-DA\u00a055-300mm\u00a0F4-5.8 ED WR gives a 5.5 times telephoto zoom range.\u00a0 Most of\u00a0the lenses, for what ever camera I have had, have been shorter focal lengths but I wanted to have an economical\u00a0telephoto\u00a0 for my DSLR\u00a0and this seemed like it could be a good option.\u00a0 It contains 12 elements in 8 groups two of which are ED (Extra Low Dispersion) glass which is primarily used to control chromatic aberrations.\u00a0 So with this in mind I made an effort to see how well the lens performed for me in regard to limiting chromatic aberration and fringing as well as general feel and performance.<\/p>\n

I should point out now that this is not a technical review where I\u00a0provide how many lines per millimeter\u00a0of resolving power this lens\u00a0has and the like. Nor is this a comparison against other lenses including the previous version of it, this is more what can this lens do and what can it not.<\/p>\n

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Lens design and feel<\/h3>\n

\"DA55-300HD_WR_wkoopmans2\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The lens weighs approximately 500g\u00a0with the hood which is relatively light but is nicely balanced when mounted to the 790g\u00a0of the K-3.\u00a0 aesthetically\u00a0the proportions are also nicely matched to the Pentax K-3 or any Pentax DSLR\u00a0but that is mitigated when fully zoomed as the lens extends its length \u00a0from a minimum of 113mm to 185mm (at closest focus).\u00a0\u00a0 Covering the entire zoom range only requires turning the ample zoom ring 45 degrees.\u00a0 It is quite stiff though likely owing to the weather sealing but the side benefit\u00a0of this is you will not experience any zoom creep…\u00a0ever.\u00a0 The surface finish of the lens is identical to that of the Pentax K-3 providing a slightly matt but tough look.<\/p>\n

\"DA55-300HD_WR_details-2851\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With no internal focus motor the lens relies on the motor\u00a0in the camera in the case of the K-3 this is quieter than the K-7 or the K-01 but is still\u00a0audible over anything less than a leaf blower (I’m kidding) but if you’re at all used to the SDM focus of the DA* series of lenses\u00a0its like a rock concert compared to one of those silent booths they use for testing your hearing.\u00a0 While we are talking about the K-01 mirrorless\u00a0I would have to say that it isn’t as good a match as with a DSLR.\u00a0 Holding a 450mm equivalent\u00a0lens out in front of you while you stare at the screen just doesnt work as well, achieving blur free images is much harder this way….<\/p>\n

\"DA55-300HD_WR_details-2844\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

although not impossible.<\/p>\n

\"DA55-300HD_WR_K-01-0383\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

300mm \/ ISO 400 \/ f8.0 \/ 1\/250 sec<\/p>\n

One of the most important features of the DA 55-300mm\u00a0ED WR is those last two letters (WR) that stand for\u00a0weather resistant.\u00a0 Being able to shoot in adverse conditions is one of the strongest points of Pentax DSLRs and many of their lenses.<\/p>\n

\"DA55-300HD_Weather_Resistance\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lens optical performance<\/h3>\n

This lens is not what you would consider fast or put another way it doesn’t gather as much light as a lens designed with a larger aperture.\u00a0 It ranges from f4\u00a0at 55mm to f5.8 at 300mm.\u00a0 I think when\u00a0we look at those maximum apertures we have to do a rethink of what is fast enough based on the fact that the latest cameras such as the Pentax K-3 can focus in incredibly\u00a0dim light and are usable at higher ISO settings than ever before.\u00a0 What this means is that even in fading light we can still capture an image by increasing the sensitivity making the maximum aperture less of a concern than it used to be. \u00a0I also found that despite having ED elements the lens produces chromatic aberration and fringing that varies depending on the conditions, however this is mostly removable in post production or in camera JPEG processing and it is not\u00a0 bad when compared to older telephoto lenses even prime ones.<\/p>\n

\"Chromatic\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On the left is a 100% crop of the original image and on the right is the same area after adjustments in Lightroom 5<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As for the improvements that the new HD coating may provide I can not say as the best comparison would be the same lens with the older coatings.\u00a0 That being said it performs well but again if your going to put the sun in the frame there isn’t a lens that can deal with that.\u00a0 I like to take things to extremes sometimes mostly for amusement. \"Contrast-2478\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0but a more realistic test shows that with a light source hitting the lens directly it is going to affect the contrast like any lens would. \"Contrast-2561\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>By the way HD<\/strong> doesn’t stand for Haze Delete<\/strong> but High Definition<\/strong>\u00a0which marketing people must have chosen\u00a0using the same focus groups as the one for walk in tubs.\u00a0 While stopping down to around f8 seems to produce the best image quality the lens can be used wide open\u00a0as I did for\u00a0many shots in the sample gallery.<\/p>\n

It should be noted that the minimum focus distance for the lens is approximately 1.4m with a maximum magnification of .28 so\u00a0 it \u00a0doesn’t lend itself to doing ‘near macro’ photography.\u00a0 In addition I did need to dial in -7 in lens adjustment with my K-3 in order to get the focus at its best at near infinity distances.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/h3>\n

This lens is as advertised “With its zoom coverage of approximately 5.5 times, the lens offers focal-length coverage from 84.5 medium telephoto to 460mm super telephoto (in the 35mm format), making it ideal for use with a wide variety of subjects and applications including portraits, sports, events and wildlife.”\u00a0 <\/em>I would add *providing the event isn’t a\u00a0silence\u00a0contest.\u00a0\u00a0 Paired with a smc\u00a0PENTAX-DA18-55mmF3.5-5.6AL WR lens you cover 18-300mm\u00a0in a fairly compact and light package.\u00a0 Am I happy with the\u00a0HD PENTAX-DA\u00a055-300mm\u00a0F4-5.8 ED WR?\u00a0 Absolutely it is up to the task of filling the 135-300mm hole that was in my lens line up, it’s not too heavy and its affordable.<\/p>\n

Sample Gallery<\/h3>\n\n\t\t