The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Olympus 300mm F4 IS Pro and the Pentax DA 300mm 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. Olympus 300mm F4 IS Pro is the longer of the two lenses at 227mm. The Pentax DA 300mm F4.0 ED with a length of 184mm, is 43mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Olympus 300mm F4 IS Pro also has a larger diameter of 93mm compared to the Pentax DA 300mm F4.0 ED's 83mm 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 300mm F4.0 ED weighs 1070g, 15% (200g) lighter than the Olympus 300mm F4 IS Pro's weight of 1270g.
Filter Threads
Both the Olympus 300mm F4 IS Pro and the Pentax DA 300mm F4.0 ED have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Olympus 300mm F4 IS Pro has the Micro Four Thirds lens mount whereas the Pentax DA 300mm F4.0 ED has the Pentax KAF2 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are OM System OM-3 Astro, OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3 for the Micro Four Thirds Mount and , and for the Pentax KAF2 Mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
300mm and the fastest aperture of
F4.0.
