Pentax HD DA 55-300mm, ED, PLM, WR, RE

The Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE is a compact telephoto zoom made for Pentax APS-C digital cameras, offering plenty of reach without the bulk of a larger telephoto setup.

Its 55-300mm range gives an equivalent field of view of approximately 84.5-460mm, making it a useful option for wildlife, sport, travel, outdoor photography and anything you can't simply walk closer to.

The PLM pulse motor provides electronic autofocus, while the retractable RE design keeps the lens relatively compact when it's packed away. Pentax also gives it WR weather-resistant construction, making it a particularly practical match for weather-resistant Pentax camera bodies.

Inside, the lens uses 14 elements in 11 groups, including an ED glass element, while its 0.95m minimum focusing distance and 0.30x maximum magnification let you get surprisingly close to smaller subjects for a telephoto zoom.

Best for

• Wildlife
• Sport
• Travel
• Outdoor photography
• Distant subjects
• Portraits
• Nature
• Pentax APS-C DSLR users
• Lightweight telephoto kits
• Shooting in changing weather conditions

What to expect

At 55mm, you're starting at approximately an 84.5mm-equivalent field of view, useful for portraits and tighter everyday compositions.

At 300mm, the field of view is equivalent to approximately 460mm, giving you serious reach for wildlife, sport and distant details.

The maximum aperture changes from f/4.5 at the short end to f/6.3 at 300mm. This isn't designed as a fast low-light telephoto. Instead, the emphasis is on useful reach, relatively low weight and portability.

The RE designation means Retractable, so the lens collapses to a shorter length when you're carrying it. WR means Weather Resistant, while PLM refers to its pulse autofocus motor.

One important compatibility point: this is a relatively modern electronically controlled Pentax lens. Its PLM autofocus and electromagnetic diaphragm mean camera-body compatibility should be checked, particularly with older Pentax DSLRs.