Is the Pentax DA 55-300 a worthwhile upgrade from the FA 80-320?
Asked 7/18/2011
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I currently use a Pentax FA 80-320 for telephoto work, and I also have a DA 50-200 that covers the shorter end. I'm considering replacing one or both with the DA 55-300. Are there any meaningful differences in image quality or autofocus between the FA 80-320 and the DA 55-300? What other factors should I consider before deciding whether to switch?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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An important factor I don't see in your argument is why do you consider upgrading - what are you missing with your current lenses? I don't have hands-on experience, but based on reviews, the 80-320 seems to be a decent lens.
The 55-300 is just another consumer zoom. It's quite good in the wide end, but I find I have to stop mine down to about f/10 to get rid of softness in the long end (and I'm not normally a pixel peeper).
Originally by user4390. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4390
15y ago
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The main question is what your current lenses are not doing for you. Based on the community feedback, the FA 80-320 is generally considered a decent lens, so the DA 55-300 may not be a clear-cut upgrade in every respect.
The DA 55-300 is another consumer telephoto zoom. Its advantage is convenience: it starts wider at 55mm, so it could reduce the need to swap between the 50-200 and 80-320. Optically, it seems to perform quite well at the shorter end, but one user noted softness at the long end unless stopped down to around f/10.
So, if your goal is to consolidate two lenses into one and gain a more useful zoom range, the 55-300 could make sense. If you're expecting a dramatic improvement in sharpness or overall image quality over the FA 80-320, the available feedback doesn't strongly support that. Before upgrading, it helps to identify whether your real need is better image quality, faster autofocus, less lens swapping, or simply a more convenient range.
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