Sigma
180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
 vs
Pentax SMC
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Much more magnification 1:1 (1x) vs 1:3.5 (0.3x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects around 3.5x larger in your photo
Has a silent focus motor Sigma HSM vs None
Help
 Focuses quickly and silently
Is a prime lens Yes vs No
Help
 Prime lenses have a single focal length, they are typically sharper and have wider apertures
Significantly narrower aperture f/32 vs f/22
Help
 At its narrowest, the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM goes 1.1 f-stops narrower
Wider aperture f/3.5 vs f/4
Help
 At its widest, the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM captures marginally more light, 0.4 f-stops
Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM Learn more about
the Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM

Reasons to consider the Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Significantly more zoom 5.5x vs 1x
Help
 Around 5.5x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Significantly better wide angle 55 mm vs 180 mm
Help
 3.3x better wide angle
Better telephoto 300 mm vs 180 mm
Help
 Around 70% more reach, less perspective distortion
Shorter 111 mm vs 182 mm
Help
 Around 40% shorter
Lighter 440 g vs 1 kg
Help
 2.2x lighter
Slightly cheaper $396.95 vs $699.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $302 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Pentax SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Learn more about
the Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM:$699.00
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:$396.95
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

competitors

Shared 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

$197
Compare the SMC DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Compare the SMC DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR 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

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

Travel lens

$497
Wide maximum Has a higher max f/stop
Zoom range Has slightly large zoom range
Compare the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Compare the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Pentax SMC DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED SDM

Pentax SMC DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED SDM

Sports lens

$1,397
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Compare the SMC DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED SDM vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Compare the SMC DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED SDM vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM Canon-ef

Macro lens

$699
Min focal length Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Length Is longer
Compare the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM Canon-ef vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Compare the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM Canon-ef vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Pentax SMC FA 77mm f/1.8

Pentax SMC FA 77mm f/1.8

Low light lens

$1,047
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Length Is shorter
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Magnification Has worse macro
Compare the SMC FA 77mm f/1.8 vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Compare the SMC FA 77mm f/1.8 vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Pentax SMC 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM

Pentax SMC 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM

Wildlife lens

$1,397
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Magnification Has worse macro
Length Is longer
Compare the SMC 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Compare the SMC 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM 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
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
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 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Macro Pentax-k

Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Macro Pentax-k

Wildlife lens

$299
Zoom range Much more zoom
Min focal length Significantly better wide angle
Magnification Much less magnification
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Macro Pentax-k vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Olympus M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R ED LNS

Olympus M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R ED LNS

Wildlife lens

$300
Min focal length Significantly better wide angle
Zoom range More zoom
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Compare the M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R ED LNS vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Tamron 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR Di Nikon-f

Tamron 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR Di Nikon-f

Travel lens
Zoom range Much more zoom
Min focal length Significantly better wide angle
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Compare the 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR Di Nikon-f vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f

Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f

Macro lens

$449
Min focal length Better wide angle
Length Shorter
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Compare the 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Pentax-k

Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Pentax-k

Macro lens

$460
Length Shorter
Min focal length Better wide angle
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Pentax-k vs the 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM

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

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 Image stabilization
Wide maximum Much wider aperture
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k

Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k

Macro lens

$165
Magnification More magnification
Zoom range Less zoom
Min focal length Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Canon-ef

Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Canon-ef

Travel lens

$279
Zoom range Much more zoom
Aperture Wider aperture
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Canon-ef 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 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

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