Pentax 55 300mm f 4 5 6 3 vs pentax hd da 55 300mm f 4 5 8 ed wr?

The newer one, the Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE, is my pick for most people. It's the replacement for the older Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR, and its faster-focusing PLM motor is the reason to buy it.

The older lens is about a third of a stop brighter at both ends of its zoom, f/4 against f/4.5 and f/5.8 against f/6.3. That's a small gain, and it only matters if you shoot in dim light at the long end. Both are APS-C lenses for the Pentax K mount, and neither has stabilisation, so a steady shutter speed matters at 300mm.

If you're chasing wildlife or sport, which is where this range is useful (wildlife and sport), take the faster autofocus. For a deeper look at what the f-number actually does, see the lenses guide.

Written by Claude from this site's pages.