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The Pentax 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE is a new variable aperture ultra telephoto zoom that is the first Pentax lens to use their new ‘Pulse Autofocus Motor’. Although it is a bit darker than the old 55-300, autofocus is much faster and virtually silent. Take a look at our samples to see how sharp this handy new zoom is.
See our Pentax 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE sample gallery
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Ricoh Imaging has announced the HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE lens. The new version builds in some new features and sheds some weight compared to the company’s previous 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR lens, but at the expense of a slightly smaller maximum aperture range.
Namely, this new lens features a pulse motor (PLM) and adopts a ‘rear-focus’ system – both of these changes result in faster autofocus acquisition times (8.3x at wide angle and 1.7x at telephoto), as well as quieter overall autofocus performance when compared to its predecessor. Ricoh also claims that, when the lens is mounted on the new K-70 DSLR, a new autofocus algorithm ensures greater precision and faster operation with dimly lit subjects.
The lens is 10% lighter than the old 55-300mm, is fully weather-sealed and focuses down to 0.95m/3.1ft Rounding out the key specs and changes is an electromagnetic diaphragm control system, which, according to Ricoh, will provide smoother aperture control during video recording.
The HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE lens will retail for $ 399.95/£399.99 when it becomes available – Ricoh will make an availability announcement in July.
Press release:
Advanced-design telephoto zoom lens delivers high-speed, quiet autofocus and outstanding optical performance in an extremely portable package
DENVER, Colo. June 8, 2016 – Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the
HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE lens. Designed for use with PENTAX K-mount digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras, this new, weather-resistant 5.5X telephoto zoom lens provides enhanced autofocus (AF) and outstanding optical performance in a compact and lightweight package.
The lens provides effective focal lengths between 84.5mm and 460mm when mounted on a PENTAX APS-C format digital SLR, including the new PENTAX K-70 announced today (see separate news release). Its design enables quiet, high-speed AF operation in still-image shooting, as well as smooth and quiet AF tracking operation during video recording, with minimal mechanical noise created by focus and aperture shifts.
PENTAX HD (high-definition) coated optics deliver sharp, bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghosting. The HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 37.4 inches (0.95 meters) to further expand the range of photographic applications. With a fully retractable design, the lens measures only 3.5 inches (89 millimeters) long when retracted, and weighs less than one pound (442 grams), making it easy to carry around, even for casual shooting.
Fully weather-sealed, this lens is a durable and dependable companion for outdoor shooting—even in rain, snow or other wet conditions—when used with any of the many weather-resistant PENTAX DSLRs, such as the new K-70.
| Pricing and Availability |
Availability of the HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE lens will be announced in early July. When available, it can be purchased at www.ricohimaging.com for $ 399.95, as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets throughout North America.
1. High-speed AF operation
With the adoption of a rear-focus system, the lens is almost 10 percent lighter than the PENTAX’s previous 55-300m lens—the HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8ED WR. By driving this focusing lens using a pulse motor (PLM), which is directly linked to a lead screw, this zoom lens also operates faster — approximately 8.3 times at its wide-angle end and approximately 1.7 times at its telephoto end —and quieter than its predecessor. When mounted on the new PENTAX K-70 digital SLR camera body (also announced today), it assures smoother, faster AF operation with dimly lit subjects, thanks to an improved AF algorithm that exchanges AF data between the camera body and the lens with greater precision. Operability of its power-assisted focus system during manual-focus operation has also been improved. Since its distance ring is designed to accurately detect the angle of rotation and swiftly react to a change of angle, this zoom lens can shift its focusing lens smoothly in response to distance ring operation.
2. Quiet AF operation and electromagnetic diaphragm control, perfect for video recording
This is the first K-mount lens to feature an electromagnetic diaphragm control system.* When mounted on the new PENTAX K-70 digital SLR or other compatible camera body, it assures smooth, high-precision aperture control during video recording. This state-of-the-art system shifts the aperture setting automatically and smoothly to result in more natural, true-to-life videos, even when the brightness level of the subject changes drastically, such as a live theater performance or a sunlight- streaked forest scene, or with active subjects such as athletes and animals. Coupled with the PLM mechanism, the system also assures smooth AF tracking operation and exposure control, while minimizing the intrusion of focus- and aperture-shift noises during video recording.
* NOTE: This lens’ KAF4 mount is compatible with an electromagnetic diaphragm control system. In order to use this lens, the camera’s firmware must be upgraded to the latest version (except for the PENTAX K-70). Cameras compatible with this system are: K-1, K-3 II, K-S2 and K-S1. If this lens is mounted on a camera without proper firmware upgrade, its diaphragm control mechanism becomes inactive, making it impossible to obtain correct exposure.
3. High-quality images, with a minimum focusing distance of 37.4 inches (0.95 meters)
With focal lengths from 84.5mm to 460mm (in the 35mm format), this telephoto zoom lens provides approximately 5.5-times zoom coverage from medium- to super-telephoto ranges. Its 14-element, 11- group optics include an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optical element to effectively minimize spherical and chromatic aberrations, while delivering high-resolution, finely detailed images with rich contrast from the image’s center to its edges and minimal color bleeding at any focal length setting. In addition to a short minimal focusing distance of 0.95 meters, made possible by the rear-focus system, the lens barrel has also been designed to be free of extension during AF operation.
4. Compact telephoto zoom lens
Thanks to its retractable structure, the lens is only 3.5 inches (89 millimeters) long and weighs less than one pound (442 grams).
5. Weather-resistant construction
The lens features dependable, weather-resistant construction with 11 sealed parts to effectively prevent the intrusion of water into the lens interior. When paired with a weather-resistant PENTAX digital SLR camera body, the result is a durable, dependable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting settings.
6. HD Coating to optimize image description
The lens is treated with high-grade, multi-layer HD (high definition) Coating. Compared with conventional multi-layer coatings, this PENTAX-original coating assures higher light transmittance and less reflection to deliver bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even under demanding lighting conditions.
7. Other features
?Quick-Shift Focus System allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation, even when the camera’s AF system is in operation.
?SP (Super Protect) Coating applied to the front surface of the lens to effectively repel water and grease.
?Rounded diaphragm with nine blades to produce a smooth, beautiful bokeh (defocus) effect. Designs and specifications are subject to change without notice.
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Zoom lens |
| Max Format size | APS-C / DX |
| Focal length | 55–300 mm |
| Image stabilisation | No |
| Lens mount | Pentax KAF3 |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F4.5–6.3 |
| Minimum aperture | F22–32 |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 9 |
| Aperture notes | Rounded blades |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 14 |
| Groups | 11 |
| Special elements / coatings | ED elements + HD and SP coatings |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.95 m (37.4″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.3× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Full time manual | Yes |
| Focus method | Extending front |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Focus distance limiter | No |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 471 g (1.04 lb) |
| Diameter | 77 mm (3.01″) |
| Length | 89 mm (3.5″) |
| Sealing | Yes |
| Colour | Black |
| Zoom method | Rotary (extending) |
| Power zoom | No |
| Filter thread | 58.0 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |
| Hood product code | PH-RBK58 |
| Tripod collar | No |
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Great new lens from Nikon. Read full review: www.seeingthemoment.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Product video for the Nikon 55-300mm Lens produced for Nikon by iSiteTV Ltd.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
LIKE / FAVE AND SHARE the video! Like Miku / Pichu’s Facebook page! www.facebook.com Like Kaito’s Facebook here: www.facebook.com Like my Facebook page to follow my other work! www.facebook.com FOLLOW PICHU COSPLAY ON TWITTER: twitter.com So this is our 3rd vocaloid cosplay PV. Some thoughts: I really enjoyed doing this one. It wasn’t that challenging since I knew what I wanted to do. However I didn’t expect that I would have problems with syncing the video and audio during edit. The song I used during the filming (for our Miku to follow while singing) was a cover and it had a different tone and feel with the original. Our Miku also had problems, she didn’t know the lyrics that well. So you’ll probably see some faults in lipsync which isn’t a big problem at all. Even though the video isn’t perfect, we always try to improve from our previous videos. Look out for our next PV for Halloween! EQUIPMENT AND PROGRAM INFO: The video has been shot with a Canon EOS 7D with 2 lenses. Nikkor 35mm f1.4 AI and a Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 V2. I also used a monopod and tripod. For the program I used to edit and color the video: Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 + Magic Bullet Colorista II by Red Giant Software NOTE : This video was not made for profit but simply for the viewing pleasure of people who love cosplay. Song rights belong to their rightful owners.
Sony has announced the DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM, a budget telephoto zoom designed to complement the 18-55mm ‘kit’ lens. It’s optimized for Sony’s APS-C Alpha SLTs and DSLRs, and features the company’s Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM) for fast, quiet focussing. Billed as an ideal lens for capturing stills and video of distant subjects, it features an ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) element, which should reduce aberrations and increase sharpness. It will be available in September for around $ 300.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
For more of this RV travel show, check out: longlonghoneymoon.com
