Tamron
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
 vs
Pentax SMC
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Better telephoto 300 mm vs 135 mm
Help
 More than 2x more reach, less perspective distortion
More magnification 1:2 (0.5x) vs 1:4.2 (0.2x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects more than 2x larger in your photo
Slightly cheaper $164.95 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $332 cheaper (3x less)
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k Learn more about
the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k

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 4.3x
Help
 Around 80% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Better wide angle 18 mm vs 70 mm
Help
 3.9x better wide angle
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 117 mm
Help
 Around 40% shorter
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

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
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
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k:435 g
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:405 g
Length Short Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k:117 mm
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:76 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k:$164.95
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:$496.95
Min focal length Good wide-angle Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k:70 mm
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR:18 mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

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

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

Wildlife lens

$397
Compare the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Compare the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
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 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Compare the SMC DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Macro Pentax-k

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

Travel lens

$290
Zoom range Has significantly large zoom range
Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Macro Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Macro Pentax-k vs the SMC DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Pentax-k

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Pentax-k

Travel lens

$249
Zoom range Has significantly large zoom range
Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC 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 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
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

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

Advantages

Disadvantages
Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Nikon-f

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$449
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Weight Slightly heavier
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Nikon-f vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
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
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Pentax-k

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

Sports lens

$729
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Length Longer
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Olympus M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6

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

Wildlife lens

$300
Length Shorter
Min focal length Slightly better wide angle
Magnification Significantly less magnification
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Pentax-k

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

Macro lens

$460
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Magnification Significantly more magnification
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Pentax-k vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k

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

Advantages

Disadvantages
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD [IF] Pentax-k

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD [IF] Pentax-k

Wide angle lens

$459
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Aperture Wider aperture
Zoom range Significantly less zoom
Wide maximum Wider aperture
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD [IF] Pentax-k 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 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
Magnification More magnification
Weight Slightly lighter
Wide maximum Much wider aperture
Zoom range Significantly less zoom
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
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
Samsung 50-200mm f/4-5.6

Samsung 50-200mm f/4-5.6

Wildlife lens

$266
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Max focal length Better telephoto
Zoom range Less zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 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.

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