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Nothing... Another legendary brand bites the dust!

2:34 My dude, right there you f'd up. I know that look.

Anyone else here praying for a 50-135 PLM? The SDM is extremely useful for sports due to its range, but its a bit slow and optically inferior to the PLM replacement of its counterpart.

Any chance you can borrow Sig 100-300/4 EX DG and Sig 70-200/2.8 HSM II ? .)

Why not instead a NEW Pentax camera 😮?

I've noticed that a lot of lenses are much cheaper here in Canada, maybe due to the weaker dollar. The DFA 70-210 F/4 can be had right now for $900 or 505 pound sterling. Seems like a great deal.

You pointed out the core problem with Pentax, which is no longer an affordable system. I mean, the lens is somehow affordable by the rule if you consider it a first-party lens, so you pay a premium for a first-party lens. But then again, it’s not a first-party lens; it’s rather a rebranded third-party lens, and you pay double the price for the name. About weather sealing, we can only debate coatings and other features; we can only debate. The original Tamron even has stabilization in it, yet they remove it and price it much higher. It’s an obvious choice because there aren’t other options. We do have the pricier Pentax 70-200, but for an independent photographer who needs this type of lens, I don't see any reason to go with Pentax. The cameras are more expensive, and so are the lenses. This lens, in its Tamron form, already comes in different mounts, so you can achieve similar or even better results for a much lower price. So, what’s the point of Pentax? I see no reason for someone to start and invest in Pentax. This lens only caters to existing Pentax users who can't afford to switch systems and just buy yet another Pentax lens to complete their setup. I see no advantage of Pentax whatsoever; being a Pentaxian is more of an emotional than a rational decision. As a Pentax user for over a decade, I'm asking myself why I still use Pentax or why I chose it in the first place. The answer why I started with Pentax is simple: at the time I became a upgraded into a DSLRs, Pentax offered the best value for the money. But thing has changed. Today, it seems to be one of the least value systems on the market if you’re starting from scratch. Frankly, you can get a full-frame camera for less, with all kinds of third-party lenses available. In-body stabilization is the norm now, as is weather sealing. Do I really need sensor shift to adjust challenging interior situations by 10%, or would I rather invest in a proper tilt-shift lens if I profit from that type of photography? Then there’s the Astro Tracer-does this feature truly benefit high-end astrophotographers, or is it just another gimmick for hobbyists aiming for somewhat usable results? What else does Pentax offer? Pixel Shift? I’ve actually used it a few times for product photography, but it was more to compensate for inadequate lighting. I also used exposure stacking techniques long before I even started using DSLRs, taking multiple shots with a cheap compact digital camera to produce a single quality outcome. Ergonomics? That might be a distinctive feature of some Pentax cameras, but definitely not all. I prefer using fixed-aperture lenses, and most of my lenses are fixed-aperture. When I work professionally, I rely on these lenses, and size is generally not an issue. However, I’d never take a 70-200 f/2.8 on vacation-that’s simply not going to happen. I’ll always use the cheap DA 50-200 kit lens, which is actually perfectly good. Just like in your case, I would keep both. In fact, I’m planning to buy the 55-300, as I consider it one of the ultimate all-rounder lenses. It will replace my 50-200, and this is something I’m prepared to buy for my Pentax system, which I won’t sell. I kind of like it, as I said before-it's emotional. But for professional work, I see myself gravitating towards other brands. Than the price: We can buy several 55-300 for the price of one 70-210/4 or 70-200/2.8. Also using FF lens on APS-C I never see good thing since IQ is just worse than if used on FF camera. Exception are high-end lenses that outperform camera considerably (even in crop mode). But they are defeating the purpose by price. U said, old cameras get refreshed with snappier lenses and feel much better in use. This only proves a point I've made multiple times in the Pentaxian group: the main problem Pentax has over the last 15 years is the lack of lenses. There are only a few capable lenses, while most are 30 years old tech in essence, which limits the camera's performance. I realized this when using catch-in-focus with the K-5 Mark II. Catch-in-focus doesn’t need to negotiate with the lens; it just snaps a photo when the AF system decides it’s in focus. I learned that the camera is actually good; the autofocus isn’t bad at all. Of course, the K-3 Mark II’s autofocus is substantially better in low light, but in good light, I don’t see a major difference between the two. Now, as you have the privilege to compare it to the K-3 Mark III, I believe the main difference is in tracking, given its increased number of focus points, which allows it to actually track. Just today, I was using the DA 35 f/2.4 on a K-r in continuous autofocus mode in good light, and I was surprised-it does a good job - until I try to recompose or move around in an environment without people; as soon as I need to track moving people, it fails because there aren’t enough focus points. This is true for K-5 Mark II as well. The K-3 Mark II is marginally better, having more focus points, but It still can’t place a point where the object maybe is because point simply doesn’t exist there. So it focuses somewhere in the back. K-3 II solved issue partially with AF hold. But that slows down reaction time so AF is not fast enough and it defeats the advantage from KR to K5ii to K3ii. Years ago, I was among the photographers who thought all we needed was a single focus point, or maybe nine, just to adjust for framing with portraits. But I was wrong. For still photography, yes, one focus point is enough, but for tracking, you need hundred(s). Now, I understand why all those focus points were essential in DSLRs-they were important for tracking. When an object moves, the camera should be able to switch to another focus point seamlessly. But with Pentax, when the object moves between two focus points, the camera focuses behind it. When it tries to refocus on a moving subject with a longer lens, it takes some time, and with my Tamron 70-200, it’s hopeless to focus on anything remotely moving, even a slow-walking bride down the aisle. However, if I pre-focus on an area, I can easily snap a motorbike, just as you can, because the K-5 II’s autofocus is capable already but not for tracking. It lacks enough focus points and constantly hunts. My “dream” for Pentax is that they create a hybrid camera with a fixed translucent mirror like Sony's SLT. Unlike Sony, which used a translucent mirror to feed an electronic viewfinder, I would use it to feed an optical viewfinder. Meanwhile, the shutter could open at the back, allowing the main sensor to serve as the focus sensor. Imagine the accuracy compared to a tiny focus sensor now, where light must pass through a translucent mirror, bounce off another mirror, and then reach a small focus sensor - and everything must need to be perfectly aligned and calibrated. If the main sensor could handle focusing, it would have hundreds of focus points, making it far easier to achieve precise focus while offering better scene recognition and analysis.

Nice to meet you. I use both the 55-300plm and the 70-210. I think they are both great lenses. Thank you for your great post.　from Japan

Hii what do you recommend me, to change my k50 to a k3 mark iii? or to but a 300mm not zoom? to shoot birds, i already have the firts 55-300 smc and for me cropping with this lense is horrible in birds, what is better new camera or new lense ?

I'm surprised you have not tried a used Pentax DA*60-250.

Thank you for the nice video. Imho pictures from k3 + plm look better. I am actually a big fun of colors of pentax k3 (mark 1 and 2) camera which has very accurate noble and kind of neutral color. Plm 55-300 is just a great lens even if it does not have the best aperture. I don't know how Pentax did it, but this lens is sharp, colorful, fast, compact and light. Cheers

I have both. The DA 55-300mm PLM does indeed suck in dust specs, although they don't appear to make much difference to IQ. As you rightly say, the PLM autofocus on the DA is blazingly fast. On the downside contrast also drops off a fraction at the long end and the out-of-focus areas are not as attractive wide-open as the DFA 70-210 in my humble opinion. This makes the DFA 70-210mm a better bet for portraits. The matt finish on the DFA lens is plastic, but it feels more premium than the slightly shinier surface of the DA 55-300mm. One other plus for the DFA 70-210mm is that it fits upright perfectly in my Billingham Hadley Pro shoulder bag.

Excellent video 😮!

Pentax SMCP-DA* 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM Autofocus Lens very good us 900

I recently got unexpectedly got A 7D mark II myself I was quite surprised about the price that I got for as normally entry level DSLRs appear in my price range because I am a budget user and buying pre owned gear is about the only way that I can afford to get a DSLR camera because that's always been the problem with that sort of camera you can very easily end up spending an arm and leg on lenses alone without all the various camera bodies that are available it can Turn out to be a very expensive Habbit if you become addicted By camera specs but if you just want a good quality versitile camera with reasonable specs then that is the way to go because you don't have to always drop a ton Of money to get if you are in the right place at the right time Which is the other half of the secret

Another good comparison video Almost forgot from the last comment that I made I am also talking to a person on eBay about a used excellent condition so they say until I look at the front and rear elements 18-270 for my all over the place camera that lens will actually live on that particular camera which would be the all black version of the K-70 and a 62mm K&F concept dark CPL plus a 10x macro front magnification lens which will come off and a .53 wide angle conversion lens adapter both 62 mm that way I have my all purpose lens put the 10 times conversion in the front for my macro shots Yes the edges will be soft but that's to be expected and if I need to do a wide-angle I have that attached with it as well so I have three lenses all in one I know strange concept so that would be one camera one lens the filter that will stay on the lens and the two small additional filters threaded design extensions

Do you have the link for the tamron version of the 70-210 I've never seen one And I had to cancel the order for the 55 to 300 Red band The guy didn't want to technically sell me the thing and kept telling me take the money and buy something else in my shop I said no I'm going to go ahead and get a cancel on that order so that's a kick what I did and now I'm just waiting for Wanda show up but again I would like to have a link to that 70-210 from Tamron thank you very much

Nice review, brilliant photos. The K1 will apply an APSC crop and operate as a 16mp camera with APSC lenses so vignetting shouldn’t be a problem. The more I see of the K3III the more I gravitate towards it.

nice video as always. If they make a K-1 III I would end up buying the 70-210mm. but for now and my style of shooting I love my 55-300mm plm on my KF. Cheers

Personally, I think the 70-210 is a good value used from the likes of MPB. I have a K3 as well as the K3iii, don't recall noticing much of an issue with the jitters you described with the AF with the 70-210, I may have to try it again as I picked up a K3iii quite soon after so did not use the combo for long. I did notice an improvement in AF on the K3iii when using my Sigma DG 120-400mm APO HSM, the AF is not especially quick with this lens, but it now locks on so much better.

I recently bought a canon 7D mark 2 for Around 200.00 pound and it came with a yongnuo 50mm 1.8 lens it goes to show that if you look around and get lucky enough you can get Real bargains on the second hand market but you have to look in unusual places to find them as different second hand dealers have different priorities when selling the equipment

I shoot birds an k-50 and k-70 with a sigma 70-300. Wondering if the pentax 70-300 plm would be an upgrade for me ? Thanks.

As I’ve said before I’ve used both but kept the 55-300 PLM and sold the 70-210 which just didn’t suit me at all. That said I still use (occasionally) my old screw drive Pentax F 70-200 which fills my needs.Excellent content though.

I'm one of those "not too many out there" shooting action. All I want is for Pentax to develop an autofocus system that's quick and reliable. It doesn't have to be class-leading with eye AF or special choices for planes, trains, automobiles, etc., just more reliable. My 55-300mm PLM lens was reliable, but it broke, which makes me wonder about the build quality. I would love for Pentax to make the 50-135mm lens with a PLM autofocus system.

My experience over the last 2 years with the 55-300 is that the resolution at 300 mm is a bit soft. At 250 mm and below seems good. Several people I know and others on RUclips have mentioned this. I like the focus speed and the light weight and I use it frequently. However, my go to lens in that range is the DA* 60-250 and I don't mind the slow focus speed for most of what I do.

It's really hard to beat the 55-300 PLM as an all 'rounder lens. Just the range alone is great, the close focus distance is great even zoomed to 300. Its compact, light weight, great image quality for the price and that quick, decisive AF on whichever KAF 4 Pentax camera you mount it to. Going up a tier in the lens range becomes a more "specialist, select your precision tool" where you lose the wide ranging focal length but you gain image quality and muscles due to the heavier duty construction of higher grade lenses. So, ya, as an all 'rounder, the 55-300 PLM all day.

Personally, I think your spot on. As an owner of the 55-300mm, I can say that the lens is great either way you look at it and the 70-210mm would be more for professional use. I still want it though. LOL😂🤣

I dropped my DA 55-300 PLM into a muddy pond. I was at the top of a steep slope, so even though I chased it down the hill, it got there first. I could see where it was because it was sending up air bubbles. Not a good sign! As I reached down for it, I slipped and fell in, further slowing down its retrieval. I was sure it was doomed. Doomed! But I pulled it out and drained out the water and took it home and dried it on top of an air filter fan, and to my amazement, no dirt got past into the optics. As good as new. Even with the air bubbles coming out, which means water going in. So it may only be WR but the sealing is no joke. That said, at 300 the (very heavy) DA* 300 prime is so much sharper that I rarely use the 55-300. I compared the 55-300 at 300 with the 100 Macro prime, and I found that a crop on the 100 was the same as the zoom at 300. So I suspect that the 70-210 cropped is as good as the 55-300 at max zoom, or better. So my opinion, if you can't afford a better lens, the 55-300 is really great, but if you can afford something better you'll probably prefer it.

Lee Interesting comparison now I want to take my old Tamron 75 - 300 lens from 2005 and use it on my Pentax k3 Mark 111 camera and see how it performs Another interesting point I've had the Pentax K3 Mark 111 for close to two years i have used nothing but Pentax weather sealed lenses and I have not had to clean the sensor compared to my other cameras with non weather sealed lenses which I have not used as much and had to clean quite a few times.

What af setting did you have on the K3iii ie type 1 2 or 3 and stability or tracking modes and do you use back button focus

I use the 55-300 PLM a lot, but I recently managed to track down an old film era 80-200 f2..8 powerzoom. Optically it is vastly superior , but it's a heavy beast to carry so I only use it when I know I'm not going to be moving around a lot. It works really well on my K3-iii snd K3. I tend to use the lens with the powerzoom feature switched off as it can be fairly annoying especially if you brush against the zoom ring accidentaly. It might be ok on a tripod, but definitely not for hand carrying especially when you're looking for a wider shot and it decides to zoom out to 200mm. I've used the 55-300 at rally's and mud runs and never had any issues and if you have to move around a lot, the weight saving is a major advantage . Another advantage is the size as it easily fits in a backpack. I wish I could find a dealer who has the newer DA lenses in stock so I could compare the image quality of both with my 80-200 to sed how close it comes At just over £400 used I think it was a bargain as it was much sharper than my friends 70-200 f2.8 Nikon lens on his D850.

I currently have a K7 and a KF...along with 2 ME Supers, a MX and a LX...so I need much older glass for my "old" bodies. I've got quite a few SMC lenses and they still make a few lenses that I can use on the old bodies.

Thank you Lee, valuable information and helpful insight. I use a K3iii and a K1 and I think the 55-300 would be the lens for me. I use a FA 28-105 (sometimes with teleconverter) or the DA* F4 300 but I also have the behemoth FA 150-450. I don't mind some underexposure, I can fix that in Lightroom.

DSLR is closer to film photography. "Mirrorless" is closer to "lifeless" AI technology 😮!

The KF is just a component refresh. Basically the same as the K70. I sold my K70 and missed it enough to get back into Pentax with the KF. I like the new KF screen. I’ve heard the aperture block issues were resolved in the k70 around 2021. Not sure if this issue has been reported on newer models. Now Pentax is getting popular do to its film project. Hopefully they invest in another entry level apsc. However I do like the old menus.

I did buy a KF, but this is a year after the video, and Amazon didn't have a K70 to buy. I'm also coming from a K7...so this is an upgrade, regardless. Add to that, my K7 lenses, and my SMC lenses for my ME Super/MX will also work (with proper settings selected).

Whatever it’s certainly more photogenic than Seaton Carew so I’ll say a draw.

Canon m100? I've been considering m6ii, also don't mind lack of lenses, am ok with basic zooms, but read the quality control wasn't great.

Sorry mate. Hannah's photo's are much better. She needs her own RUclips channel.

Nice idea. Whats the camera?

Scarborough is looking sunny this October.

What kind of water bridge is that? When I saw the thumbnail I was thinking some kind of sci-fi thing because it was hard to tell what it was. Kind of reminds me of the movie Waterworld.

bought KP years ago used in Tokyo.... waiting for some new gear!

My #1 SLR was a Pentax MX into 87, as teenie. Pentax K5 was cool, but the K3 III is really overpriced, 2K, for an APS-C DSLR. For this price, i can nowadays buy a fine FF DSLR, 3 fine lenses, and still have money left, via MPB.

At least, it does work on Pentax. Try to run a 2016 released AF-P Nikon lens onto an old body, say D90....no chance, it'll never work.

Shot with pentax ?

If need to focus almost on full screen. what is best way?

Pentax user for 51 years, yes an old guy here. Currently my 2 main cameras are 2 K70S. Got the first in 2019 and the second one in 2023. One black the other silver so I could tell them apart. Got my first PLM lens last year the 18-135mm and took it on a trip to Portugal. The 18-135mm was on the newer silver K70. On the black K70 I had a 75-300mm SMC Pentax-FA J lens. Well right off the bat the focus speed of the PLM lens and how quiet it is was amazing. Every night when I downloaded the photos I was amazed at the quality as well. My older lenses were good, but this was a step up. The 75-300mm was a clunker as far as operations went. Slow and noisy. So while in Portugal I started to do a little research to see if there were any other PLM lenses. Of course there was the 55-300mm PLM. I ordered it and had it waiting for me when I got back to Canada. It is now permanently mounted on my Black K70. Again fast focus and quiet. The results, again a step up from my older 75-300. I do a lot of plane photography and the 55-300 PLM is great for that. Also the price for both PLM lenses I found quite reasonable. My only complaint is that I wish the 55-300 was a bit faster as far as light capture goes. I do know that that would most likely raise the price considerably so I can live with the speed it is. If I need a long lens for low light work I have a 300mm/f4 Super Takumar that I can use and have. The quality is still there. I highly recommend both PLM lenses. Thank you for your videos and hope you are having a great vacation.

nx1 and nx500 were the best

Fantastically useful video. And terrifically engaging style. Many thanks.