The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR and the Pentax DA 60-250mm F4.0 ED 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 DA 60-250mm F4.0 ED is the longer of the two lenses at 168mm. The Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR with a length of 112mm, is 56mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax DA 60-250mm F4.0 ED also has a larger diameter of 82mm compared to the Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR's 71mm 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 DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR weighs 466g, which means it is 574g (55%) lighter than the Pentax DA 60-250mm F4.0 ED which has a weight of 1040g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Pentax KAF2 Mount for size comparison purposes.
Super Telephoto Lenses in Pentax KAF2 Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Pentax DA 60-250mm F4.0 ED has a 67mm 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 DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax DA 60-250mm F4.0 ED:
Lens Mounts
Both the Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR and the Pentax DA 60-250mm F4.0 ED has the same Pentax KAF2 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF2 lenses are , and .
Focal Range
Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 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 DA 60-250mm F4.0 ED has a focal range of 60-250mm and 4.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 90-375mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.