Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k vs Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

differences

Reasons to consider the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Has a consant aperture

Yes

Constant aperture lenses offer the same aperture at all focal lengths

Has a silent focus motor

Sigma HSM

None

Focuses quickly and silently

Wider aperture

f/2.8

f/4

At its widest, the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k captures slightly more light, 1 f-stop

Learn more about
the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Reasons to consider the Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

More zoom

5.5x

2.9x

More than 90% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos

Shorter

111 mm

184 mm

Around 40% shorter

Lighter

440 g

1.4 kg

3.1x lighter

Better telephoto

300 mm

200 mm

50% more reach, less perspective distortion

Slightly cheaper

$396.95

$799.00

The best price we've seen is $402 cheaper (2x less)

Slightly better wide angle

55 mm

70 mm

More than 20% better wide angle

Slightly smaller diameter

71 mm

86 mm

Around 20% smaller lens at the end

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.

	Both are zoom lenses
	Typically not as sharp as prime lenses

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Good wide-angle

70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k:	70 mm
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:	55 mm

Inexpensive

70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k:	$799.00
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:	$396.95

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

competitors

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

Wildlife lens

$1,397

Has a higher max f/stop

Has a narrower aperture

Has worse macro

Compare the SMC 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Compare the SMC 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Pentax-k

Sports lens

$729

Has a higher max f/stop

Is longer

Is heavier

Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Pentax-k vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

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

Wildlife lens

$159

Has image stabilization

Has a narrower aperture

Has a lower max f/stop

Compare the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Compare the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

Pentax SMC DA 70mm f/2.4

Low light lens

$697

Is a prime lens

Significantly shorter

Doesn't have a silent focus motor

Worse telephoto

Compare the SMC DA 70mm f/2.4 vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$7,999

Much better telephoto

Significantly narrower aperture

Much longer

Much heavier

Compare the 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Canon-ef vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

Wildlife lens

$224 - $247

Image stabilization

Shorter

Has a variable aperture

Narrower aperture

Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Nikon Nikkor AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

Sports lens

$999

Doesn't have a silent focus motor

Less magnification

Compare the Nikkor AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

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

Wildlife lens

$197

Slightly lighter

Worse telephoto

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

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

Macro lens

$209

More magnification

Less zoom

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

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC LD Macro Nikon-f

Travel lens

$400

Much more zoom

Image stabilization

Slightly worse telephoto

Compare the 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC LD Macro Nikon-f vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

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

Wildlife lens

$399

Image stabilization

Much wider aperture

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 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Macro Pentax-k

Travel lens

$290

Significantly more zoom

Wider aperture

Worse telephoto

Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II 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.

“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

Sigma
70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k
vs
Pentax SMC
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

differences

Reasons to consider the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Pentax-k

Reasons to consider the Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED