The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR and the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR 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. Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR is the longer of the two lenses at 142mm. The PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR with a length of 89mm, is 53mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR also has a larger diameter of 85mm 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, 35% (254g) lighter than the Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR's weight of 725g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR has a filter size of 77mm whereas the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has the Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF3 Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR has a focal range of 28-400mm and
14.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
42 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the 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.
