§ 01 Other use cases

Best Wildlife Lenses for Pentax K

Wildlife lenses for Pentax K covers 21 lenses in the Lens Arena database, spanning 18–300 mm. List and launch prices run from about $800 to $2,200. Releases span 2007 to 2016.

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Our picks

From manufacturer specs
PickLensKey figureWhy
BrightestPentax smc DA* 200 mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDMf/2.8Brightest maximum aperture here at f/2.8, and the lightest of the f/2.8 lenses at 825 g.
LightestPentax smc DA L 50-200 mm f/4-5.6 ED235 gLightest here at 235 g, 50 g less than the next lightest (Pentax smc DA 50-200 mm f/4-5.6 ED WR).
Best for APS-C bodiesSigma C 18-200 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSMf/3.5-6.3Next brightest APS-C lens at f/3.5-6.3, about 27–300 mm full-frame equivalent, after Pentax smc DA* 200 mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM (picked above).
Best third-partySigma 120-300 mm f/2.8 APO EX DG OS HSMf/2.8Brightest lens here from a third-party maker (Sigma), at f/2.8.
NewestHD Pentax DA 55 300mm F4.5 6.3 ED PLM WR REJun 2016The most recent release here, from Jun 2016.
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Sample frames from the top lenses

One frame per lens
Photo taken with the Pentax smc DA* 200 mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM by efgepe – Kormorane (Phalacrocoracidae)
Pentax smc DA* 200 mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM by efgepe
Photo taken with the Sigma C 18-200 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM by ritomo – IMGP0012
Sigma C 18-200 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM by ritomo
Photo taken with the HD Pentax DA 55 300mm F4.5 6.3 ED PLM WR RE by JohnJo Silverback – Take off!
HD Pentax DA 55 300mm F4.5 6.3 ED PLM WR RE by JohnJo Silverback
Photo taken with the Pentax smc DA 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] by w126uk / Duncan Joint – Ford Mustang II overlooking Torquay harbour
Pentax smc DA 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] by w126uk / Duncan Joint
Photo taken with the Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM by markus_kaeppeli – Schafnase und Rossfluh
Sigma 18-250 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM by markus_kaeppeli
Photo taken with the Sigma 18 300 F3.5 6.3 DC Macro OS HSM C by Zygonyx – Aggressive cooting
Sigma 18 300 F3.5 6.3 DC Macro OS HSM C by Zygonyx
Photo taken with the Sigma 50-500 mm f/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM by mwomack77479 – Small Flowered Evening Primrose or Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) D7100 DSC_7960-copyfl
Sigma 50-500 mm f/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM by mwomack77479
Photo taken with the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS by BrightGarden – Red Shouldered Hawk Scoping Lunch
Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS by BrightGarden
Photo taken with the Pentax smc DA 50-200 mm f/4-5.6 ED WR by Kernowfile – 3KA22149a_CT
Pentax smc DA 50-200 mm f/4-5.6 ED WR by Kernowfile
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How we chose

Lenses that reach at least 300 mm (full-frame equivalent). Picks come from manufacturer specifications: the brightest maximum aperture, the lowest weight, APS-C and third-party options, and the most recent release. We do not rank on sharpness, bokeh or autofocus, because we have no test data for them. Use the sample frames and video reviews on each lens page to judge those.

All 21 wildlife lenses for Pentax K

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