The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 and the Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 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. Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR is the longer of the two lenses at 112mm. The Pentax 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 with a length of 86mm, is 26mm shorter. On the other hand, the Pentax 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 has a larger diameter of 75mm 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 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 weighs 455g, which means it is 11g (2%) lighter than the Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR which has a weight of 466g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 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 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Pentax 18-250mm F3.5-6.3:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 has the Pentax KAF lens mount whereas the Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR has the Pentax KAF2 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount and , and for the Pentax KAF2 Mount.
Focal Range
Pentax 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 has a focal range of 18-250mm and
13.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-375mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the 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.
