Tamron
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
 vs
Pentax SMC
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD 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
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 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
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 Di LD Macro Pentax-k:435 g
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:440 g
Length Short Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k:117 mm
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:111 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k:$164.95
DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED:$396.95
Min focal length Good wide-angle Help
70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD 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

$197
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 Di LD 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 APO DG Macro Pentax-k

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

Macro lens

$209
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
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 18-200mm 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 much large zoom range
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
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 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
Olympus M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6

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

Wildlife lens

$300
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Compare the M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Compare the M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 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 Di LD 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
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 much large zoom range
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
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 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
Wide maximum Has a higher max f/stop
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Magnification Has worse macro
Compare the SMC 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Compare the SMC 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM vs the SMC DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

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

Advantages

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

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

Macro lens

$144
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Canon-ef vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f

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

Travel lens

$329
Zoom range Much more zoom
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Magnification Less magnification
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Pentax-k
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
Zoom range Much more zoom
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Magnification Less magnification
Max focal length Worse telephoto
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

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

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
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 Much narrower aperture
Zoom range More zoom
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Magnification Slightly less magnification
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

discussion Which do you think is better?

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