Sigma
70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
 vs
Pentax SMC
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
More magnification 1:2 (0.5x) vs 1:3.5 (0.3x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects more than 70% larger in your photo
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k Learn more about
the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k

Reasons to consider the Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
More zoom 5.5x vs 4.3x
Help
 Around 30% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Slightly better wide angle 55 mm vs 70 mm
Help
 More than 20% better wide angle
Slightly lighter 440 g vs 0.6 kg
Help
 More than 20% lighter
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
Max focal length Good telephoto Help
300 mm
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
f/4
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 wildlife lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weight Light weight Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k:0.6 kg
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:440 g
Length Short Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k:119 mm
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:111 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k:$209.00
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:$396.95
Min focal length Good wide-angle Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k:70 mm
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:55 mm
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

$247
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Compare the SMC DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
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 DG OS Pentax-k

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

Wildlife lens

$399
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Pentax-k 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 Has image stabilization
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
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
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
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Compare the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
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
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
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro 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
Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro Pentax-k

Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro Pentax-k

Wildlife lens

$125
Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro 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
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 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 Competitors

Advantages

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

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

Macro lens

$159
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f

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

Macro lens

$199
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
Nikon Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

Nikon Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

Wildlife lens

$150
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Magnification Less magnification
Compare the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO HSM Four-thirds

Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO HSM Four-thirds

Wildlife lens

$6,999
Max focal length Much better telephoto
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Length Much longer
Weight Much heavier
Compare the 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO HSM Four-thirds vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Macro Canon-ef

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Macro Canon-ef

Travel lens

$199
Zoom range Much more zoom
Min focal length Better wide angle
Magnification Less magnification
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Macro Canon-ef vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k

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

Advantages

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

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

Wildlife lens

$309
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
Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro Nikon-f

Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$164
Zoom range Less zoom
Min focal length Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro Nikon-f vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
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
Zoom range Much more zoom
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

discussion Which do you think is better?

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