Pentax SMC
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
 vs
Pentax SMC
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Better telephoto 300 mm vs 135 mm
Help
 More than 2x more reach, less perspective distortion
Slightly more magnification 1:3.5 (0.3x) vs 1:4.2 (0.2x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects around 20% larger in your photo
Pentax SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Learn more about
the Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

Reasons to consider the Pentax DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Much narrower aperture f/38 vs f/22
Help
 At its narrowest, the DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR goes 1.6 f-stops narrower
More zoom 7.5x vs 5.5x
Help
 Around 40% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Wider aperture f/3.5 vs f/4
Help
 At its widest, the DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR captures marginally more light, 0.4 f-stops
Shorter 76 mm vs 111 mm
Help
 More than 30% shorter
Better wide angle 18 mm vs 55 mm
Help
 3.1x better wide angle
Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR Learn more about
the Pentax DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Zoom range Great zoom Help
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:5.5x
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:7.5x
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Focus motor No silent focus motor Help
Louder and slower
Fixed aperture Both are variable aperture lenses Help
Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

Compared to telephoto lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weight Light weight Help
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:440 g
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:405 g
Length Short Help
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:111 mm
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:76 mm
Min focal length Good wide-angle Help
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:55 mm
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:18 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:$396.95
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:$496.95
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR

Wide angle lens

$197
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Zoom range Has slightly smaller zoom range
Compare the SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Compare the SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Pentax-k

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Pentax-k

Wildlife lens

$399
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Min focal length Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Pentax-k

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Pentax-k

Travel lens

$479
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM

Wildlife lens

$399
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR

Pentax SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax SMC DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

Pentax SMC DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

Wildlife lens

$247
Weight Slightly lighter
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the SMC DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Wildlife lens

$397
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Aperture Narrower aperture
Length Slightly longer
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Canon-ef

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$259
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Wide maximum Much wider aperture
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Canon-ef vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Sigma 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k

Sigma 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k

Wildlife lens

$159
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Wide maximum Much wider aperture
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k

Macro lens

$209
Magnification More magnification
Zoom range Less zoom
Min focal length Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Travel lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Zoom range Less zoom
Max focal length Slightly worse telephoto
Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Pentax SMC DA 17-70mm f/4 AL SDM

Pentax SMC DA 17-70mm f/4 AL SDM

Wide angle lens

$597
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Wide maximum Much wider aperture
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the SMC DA 17-70mm f/4 AL SDM vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED SDM

Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED SDM

Wide angle lens

$1,297
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Wide maximum Much wider aperture
Zoom range Significantly less zoom
Compare the SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED SDM vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Travel lens

$499 - $549
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Length Slightly longer
Compare the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Sigma 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k

Travel lens

$339
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Wide maximum Much wider aperture
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture
Compare the 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

Showing 0 comments
“LensHero will help you cut through the sheer number of lenses out there to find the few you want to read more about”
- LifeHacker
“Finding the right lens on Lenshero is incredibly easy!”
- Revell Photography
“I am in love with LensHero.”
- Shoot from the Belly
“Kind of a little bit in love with LensHero”
- @alicetragedy
“No technical stuff whatsoever, just plain and simple questions complete with examples so that any user can understand”
- Karel Donk, Photographer
“I love that I can pull up different lenses in my price range that will fit my DSLR.”
- Jennifer Sutton
feedback and support | about | blog | privacy and legal
Copyright © 2013 by LensHero, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Rebellion Media Technology