Compare lenses

Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE vs Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

The Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE and the Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE if you want more reach (to 450mm equivalent). Pick the Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR if you want a brighter f/4 (0.3 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds and a wider view (from 75mm equivalent).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE and the Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE	Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR
Maker	Pentax	Pentax
Focal length	55-300mm (zoom)	50-200mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	82-450mm on APS-C	75-300mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/4.5-6.3	f/4-5.6brighter
Made for	APS-C	APS-C
Mounts	Pentax K	Pentax K
Stabilised	no	no
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	5.5×more range	4.0×
Weight	442 g	not listed
Cameras it fits	20 in this guide	20 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE: 55-300mm on APS-C, like 82-450mm.

Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR: 50-200mm on APS-C, like 75-300mm.

Aperture

Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE: f/4.5 wide open.

Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR: f/4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

20 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.