LBA: Pentax DA55-300

[jthommo]

As a struggling journalist working for Auntie I don't have the wealth to get a first class telephoto lens but by the same token I was getting sick of the foibles of the Tamron 70-300.

So I lashed out on the well regarded but budget DA55-300 and can report it is far, far better than the Tamron in every respect. (Except macro!) Sharp at the long end (and quite good wide open) without the purple fringing of the Tammy.

Here's the compulsory first couple of pics - both wide open at 300mm
Sulphur crested cockatoo



Superb fairy wren



--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[xinogage]

I just obtained mine yesterday, after selling the Tamron 70-300. I have not had a chance to test it yet, I just hope it is as good a copy as yours. Great shots.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xinogage

 

[dportal]

congratulations, it's a very fine lens. I'm very satisfied with mine
there's better glass? of course. But this lens is a fantastic value!!
enjoy it
dp
--
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danielportal

 

[ozdean]

It's a good bit of glass Jim & light too.
--
Regards Dean - Capturing Creation

 

[jamesm007]

Congratulations, you must have a good copy! Its nice to shoot wide open at 300mm even if wide open is f5.8, and have great pics. Technically the MTF rolls off into the corners, but its still high enough combined with superb contrast/color to be a non-issue. If you go to f8, its sharp at least my copy corner to corner. At any other focal length its sharp corner to corner pretty much at wide open fstops. Its obvious its a very modern design, using high quality ED glass elements, two of them, one in the front group of elements, one in the middle lens group. This helps CA/PF and brings it to an acceptable level, the Sigma APOs are still much better in the category however. Anyways the Tamron and Sigma consumer telephoto are old film day designs and both companies need to bring out new lens to compete with what the OEM manufactors are putting out in the consumer telephoto category, especially Pentax with its $300 (street price) DA55-300mm.

Have fun thanks for the LBA pics.

--
jamesm007,
http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z77/jamesm700/
WSSA member 266PX

 

[jthommo]

This was the busiest, messiest background I could find to test its bokeh...not too bad considering...



And a lonely leaf. I like this lens.



-
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[jthommo]

Congratulations, you must have a good copy! Its nice to shoot wide
open at 300mm even if wide open is f5.8, and have great pics.
Technically the MTF rolls off into the corners, but its still high
enough combined with superb contrast/color to be a non-issue. If you
go to f8, its sharp at least my copy corner to corner. At any other
focal length its sharp corner to corner pretty much at wide open
fstops. Its obvious its a very modern design, using high quality ED
glass elements, two of them, one in the front group of elements, one
in the middle lens group. This helps CA/PF and brings it to an
acceptable level, the Sigma APOs are still much better in the
category however. Anyways the Tamron and Sigma consumer telephoto are
old film day designs and both companies need to bring out new lens to
compete with what the OEM manufactors are putting out in the consumer
telephoto category, especially Pentax with its $300 (street price)
DA55-300mm.

I'll take you word for it! Thanks for the comments James.

--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[jthommo]

It's a good bit of glass Jeremy & light too.

And that can't be underestimated for someone who travels a fair bit.
--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[jthommo]

I just obtained mine yesterday, after selling the Tamron 70-300. I
have not had a chance to test it yet, I just hope it is as good a
copy as yours. Great shots.

Thanks! It's so much better than the Tamron its not funny.
--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[jthommo]

congratulations, it's a very fine lens. I'm very satisfied with mine
there's better glass? of course. But this lens is a fantastic value!!
enjoy it

Thanks dp. I will.

--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[Pete Dee]

--
Very nice.

Just to warn you, I am going to steal that lens next time we do coffee. ;-)

So anyone up for coffee in the morning?

Cheers.

Pete

 

[jthommo]

--
Very nice.

Just to warn you, I am going to steal that lens next time we do
coffee. ;-)

So anyone up for coffee in the morning?

I'm heading up to emerald city straight from the Brumbies tonight so I'm out Pete.

--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[fotografos]

Congratulations on your new lens. I got my copy on Monday and am very impressed with it. It seems to be in the same optical league as the DA16-45.
best regards,
.bill

 

[Lance B]

You've got to be f*#@ing kidding! That shot of the blue wren is amazing! Great work, mate.

From the many examples I have seen, the DA55-300 looks like a real winner and your photos back that right up.
--
Lance B
http://www.pbase.com/lance_b

 

[jthommo]

You've got to be f*#@ing kidding! That shot of the blue wren is
amazing! Great work, mate.

From the many examples I have seen, the DA55-300 looks like a real
winner and your photos back that right up.

Thanks, Lance. It gives a pretty good bang-for-buck I reckon.
--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[Jimbob Productions]

Nice shots Thommo. Those fairy wrens are tough to capture - flitting about all the time. Congrats on the lens - hope to see a lot more from it.

--
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/jamesverhoeven
http://www.photographyvoice.com/pv/potd/Archive.aspx?st=P&c=12387
http://community.webshots.com/user/jimbob_productions

 

[RichyX]

It's so much better than the Tamron its not funny.
--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

Did you have a bad copy of the Tamron?

The Photozone review suggests that optically the Tamron is a match for the Pentax, aside from the fringing.

--
My Photos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/richyx/
http://richyx83.deviantart.com/
My Videos - http://www.youtube.com/RXI83

 

[jthommo]

It's so much better than the Tamron its not funny.
--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

Did you have a bad copy of the Tamron?
The Photozone review suggests that optically the Tamron is a match
for the Pentax, aside from the fringing.

No I had a good copy...as for reviews, the only review I trust is the one I see with my own eyes.

--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[jthommo]

Nice shots Thommo. Those fairy wrens are tough to capture - flitting
about all the time. Congrats on the lens - hope to see a lot more
from it.

Thanks Jim...they are hard little buggers to nail...I took it through the bedroom window!
--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[richardday]

Great shots Thommo, you will love this little lens, together with the DA 16-45 they are the little jewels in the Pentax crown.

Love mine, it will be interesting to see how much better the DA*60-250 will be! ];-)
--
Richard Day - 'Carpe Diem!'
Gloucester UK