Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM or the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR?

The Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM opens to f/4, against f/4-5.8 on the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR.

Which is lighter, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM or the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR?

The Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR weighs 466 g, 574 g less than the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM (1040 g).

Which focuses closer, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM or the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR?

The Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM focuses down to 1.1 m, against 1.4 m for the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR.

Is the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM or the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR better for portrait photography?

For portrait photography, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM has the edge: its f/4 aperture gathers more light than f/4-5.8.

§ 03 Head to head

Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM vs Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR

Pentax 60–250mm f/4 has a brighter maximum aperture. Pentax 55–300mm f/4-5.8 has a wider field of view.

Both lenses are made for the Pentax K mount: the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM is a 60–250mm f/4 zoom, and the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR is a 55–300mm f/4-5.8 zoom. On paper the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR comes out ahead, 6 advantages to 3, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM

f/4 · 60–250mm · 1040 g

Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR

f/4-5.8 · 55–300mm · 466 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM better than the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR?

Brighter maximum aperture (f/4 vs f/4-5.8)
Focuses 30 cm closer (1.1 m vs 1.4 m)
More aperture blades (9 vs 6)

Why is the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR better than the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM?

Wider field of view (55mm vs 60mm)
Longer reach (300mm vs 250mm)
574 g lighter (466 g vs 1040 g)
56 mm shorter (111.5 mm vs 167.5 mm long)
Smaller filter thread (58 mm vs 67 mm)
Newer design (2013 vs 2008)

Which should you buy?

By use

portrait For portrait photography, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM has the edge: its f/4 aperture gathers more light than f/4-5.8.

Specification

16 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM	Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR
Focal length	60–250mm	55–300mm
Maximum aperture	f/4 ◆	f/4-5.8
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/32
Lens type	Zoom lens	Zoom lens
Format	APS-C	APS-C
Weight	1040 g (36.68 oz)	466 g (16.44 oz) ◆
Dimensions	82 x 167.5 mm	111.5 x 72 mm
Minimum focusing distance	1.1 m (43.31 inches) ◆	1.4 m (55.12 inches)
Image stabilization	—	No
Weather sealing	Yes	Yes
Aperture ring	—	No
Aperture blades	9 ◆	6
Optical construction	15 elements in 13 groups	12 elements / 8 groups
Filter size	67 mm	58 mm ◆
Lens mount	Pentax K	Pentax K
Released	2008	2013

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Pentax
B · Pentax

167.5 × 82 mm
111.5 × 72 mm

The Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM is 56 mm longer and 574 g heavier than the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens

Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM

Video reviews

4 on YouTube

Video thumbnail for Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM review 1

Video thumbnail for Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM review 2

Video thumbnail for Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR review 1

Video thumbnail for Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR review 2

Questions

Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM or the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR?: The Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM opens to f/4, against f/4-5.8 on the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR.
Which is lighter, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM or the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR?: The Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR weighs 466 g, 574 g less than the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM (1040 g).
Which focuses closer, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM or the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR?: The Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM focuses down to 1.1 m, against 1.4 m for the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR.
Is the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM or the Pentax smc DA HD 55-300 mm f/4.0-5.8 ED WR better for portrait photography?: For portrait photography, the Pentax smc DA* 60-250 mm f/4.0 ED [IF] SDM has the edge: its f/4 aperture gathers more light than f/4-5.8.