Compare lenses

Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR vs Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

The Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR 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/4-5.8 ED WR 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 wider view (from 75mm equivalent).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR 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.
SpecPentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WRPentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR
MakerPentaxPentax
Focal length55-300mm (zoom)50-200mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent82-450mm on APS-C75-300mm on APS-C
Maximum aperturef/4-5.8f/4-5.6
Made forAPS-CAPS-C
MountsPentax KPentax K
Stabilisednono
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range5.5×more range4.0×
Cameras it fits20 in this guide20 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080082-450mm equiv.HD DA 55-300mm
Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR: 55-300mm on APS-C, like 82-450mm.
142435508513520040080075-300mm equiv.smc DA 50-200mm
Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR: 50-200mm on APS-C, like 75-300mm.

Aperture

f/4
Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR: f/4 wide open.
f/4
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

smc DA 50-200mm at 50mm · 27°HD DA 55-300mm at 55mm · 25°smc DA 50-200mm at 200mm · 7°HD DA 55-300mm at 300mm · 5°
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.

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

and 10 more

Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

and 10 more

On their own pages