Pentax 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR HD DA

 
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55-300mm $372
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Buy the Pentax 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR HD DA

(From Pentax lens literature) Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation (Ricoh Imaging) has announced the introduction of a new HD PENTAX-DA lens. Specifically designed for PENTAX K-mount DSLRs, the new HD PENTAX-DA 55-300 mm F4-5.8ED WR is a versatile telephoto zoom lens that features the PENTAX high-grade multi-layer High Definition (HD) coating and dependable weather-sealed construction.

Complementing the largest offering of APS-C optimized lenses in the imaging industry, the new HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm lens is the 28th in the Ricoh Imaging lineup of PENTAX K-mount lenses architected and engineered to perfectly pair with an APS-C-sized sensor. With a zoom ratio of approximately 5.5 times, the 55-300mm range covers a wide range of focal lengths from medium to super telephoto and thanks to the sturdy and dependable weather-sealed construction the HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm lens can also handle a wide variety of weather conditions ensuring moisture or rain are never the cause for a missed photo. Additionally, thanks to the treatment of the PENTAX HD coating, photographers are assured much higher light transmittance than conventional multi-layer coatings, delivering sharp, clear images with significantly reduced flare and ghosting, even under demanding, backlit conditions.

“With the announcement of the our new long zoom 55-300mm lens, Ricoh Imaging now offers twice as many APS-C optimized lenses as some of our competitors,” said Jim Malcolm, Executive Vice President, Ricoh Imaging. “Pair this with our robust family of APS-C DSLRs, which includes the newly announced PENTAX K-3, and consumers a guaranteed an unequaled imaging experience that combines sharp optics with powerful electronics to create beautifully crisp and clear images.”

Ricoh Imaging’s full line of APS-C cameras includes the full-featured, entry-level K-500; the customizable, weather-sealed K-50; the robust, highly-regarded K-5IIs as well as the standard setting K-3, which touts a host of professional-grade features like a high-resolution 24 megapixel image sensor, fast 8.3 frames per second frame rate, selectable anti-aliasing filter and easy and seamless wireless connectivity with unprecedented functionality.

Pricing and Availability
The HD PENTAX-DA 55-300 mm F4-5.8ED WR will be available for purchase online at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and at retailers nationwide in November 2013 for a suggested retail price of $449.95.

Pentax 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR HD DA

Pentax 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR HD DA User Reviews

10.0/10 average of 1 review(s) Build Quality 10.0/10 Image Quality 9.0/10
  • 10 out of 10 points and recommended by Tord (30 reviews)
    Water/dust resistant, latest lens coating.
    Screw-drive focusing, thus a bit noisy.

    The HD DA55-300 is a modernised version of the DA55-300, so the optics are the same, but the lenses have the latest coatings, which makes a great difference in practical use. The addition of seals makes the lens more rugged, and feels much more like a pro-lens than the earlier version.

    It is not the fastest focusing lens around, but still impressively fast.

    With a K-30 attached to it you'll have a very fast, sharp, package, still impressive after a lot of new lenses and cameras have appeared on the market.

    My wife paid $100, and paid the rest in form of her old, surplus DA55-300, a very fair price. Normally it costs around $500.

    reviewed September 22nd, 2016 (purchased for $100)