The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR and the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED is the longer of the two lenses at 203mm. The PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR with a length of 89mm, is 114mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR's 77mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR weighs 471g, which means it is 1284g (73%) lighter than the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED which has a weight of 1755g.
Filter Threads
The PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED:
Lens Mounts
Both the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR and the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED has the same Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF3 lenses are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Focal Range
PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has a focal range of 55-300mm and
5.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
82.5-450mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 300mm.
