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Pentax SMCP-DA 300mm f/4 ED IF SDM Lens with Hood

SKU: PX3004AFD MFR: 21760
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Key Features

  • Capture stunning detail with this Pentax 300mm lens, perfect for wildlife photography.
  • Experience fast, quiet autofocus with the Pentax DA lens's advanced SDM technology.
  • The f/4 maximum aperture on this telephoto lens excels in low light conditions.
  • Enjoy sharp, high-contrast images with specialized lens coatings on this prime lens.
  • Durable build quality with a tripod collar ensures stability for outdoor shooting.
  • Get closer to the action; the 300mm focal length brings distant subjects into focus.
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Questions & Answers

Shopper : I have a Pentax K-70 with 18-135 lens, and I need to know how this lens (DA 300 f4 ED IF SDM) works on my camera? Thanks in advance.
CHARLIE C : Will this lens work on the full frame Pentax K1?ARUNAS B : Yes, works infill frame modeELI S : Yes, despite being a "DA" lens, it will cover the full frame sensor and is officially rated "designed for FF" by PentaxTHIRD COAST G : I have both the K1 and 300 mm lens, and they work well in full frame mode. The lens is also supported for doing in camera lens correction in full frame.REMY K : I cannot answer that as I have a K3 and K5...It works very well with them...MICHAEL K : No, it's only meant for use with APS-C sized sensors. The image circle is too small, and you would most likely see substantial "vignetting" / loss of image area at the corners of full frame sensors.NAKOMIS N : Yes. Pentaxforums just did a review of most Pentax lenses and their FF functionality...
ROGER W : The F Sigma designation is listed on the Adorama DSLR Lenses and Film Lesnes ad. What does the "f sigma" designation mean?JENNIFER P : I am not 100% sure but I thing it means fixed focal length. You can focus with this lens but not really zoom in or out.ANDREW R : I'm afraid I don't understand your question. There does not appear to be any such "F Sigma" designation on the product listing.

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2022-05-20T08:31:54

Rated 5 out of 5

A full frame long reach lens.

Tack sharp at full aperture. I have this paired with a K1, and this should be named a DFA lens. Great full-frame performance. quick focusing. I even tried it with the 1.7x converter and found it (the converter) focuses nicely in good light, and still makes good pictures.

ROBERT W.

2020-02-13T07:08:24

Rated 5 out of 5

Works great

Great lens for wildlife. Sharp as a tack. And very quiet. Great Adorama service. Would highly recommend this lens.

DIANE P.

2019-05-12T09:08:16

Rated 5 out of 5

Weight and handling are very good

Only had this lens a few days. Weight and handling are very good. Image sharpness is excellent. Manual focus is smooth. Many people indicate that the autofocus (AF) tends to be slow or hunts a lot. I had excellent results with "Spot" and "center weighted" focus and exposure settings. I have my AF and AE on back buttons not the shutter release button. I think that the slow and seeking results are from using multi-point, image wide settings and having too many small limbs and leaves in the image. I have it mounted on a K-3. I have not tried it on a K-1 or K-5 yet.

JAMES B.

2019-01-17T18:44:16

Rated 5 out of 5

Superb

This is without a doubt, the best lens I’ve ever owned. I can’t believe how sharp it is. I’m using it on a K1 full frame and i don’t see any vingetting as some might suggest. It’s just superb.

MIRKO M.

2018-08-17T16:43:34

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent lens for wildlife.

I'm very pleased with this lens. Very fast and smooth focus. The Pentax 1.4x works great with it.

Robert K.

2017-09-24T09:21:24

Rated 5 out of 5

Nice enthusiast lens

Great build. Pretty close focusing. Nice and sharp. Fairly quick focusing on the K1.

GREG L.

2017-07-26T05:52:26

Rated 5 out of 5

OUTSTANDING LENS!

Optically only Zeiss & Hassleblad are better. Rugged construction, dust & water resistant. Smooth operation, flawless autofocus, exact auto exposure, super easy to use in manual modes. Slides into mount and locks precisely in place. Much better lens than the other mass market producers for less money. Extremely good value.

Lee O.

2017-05-16T09:36:15

Rated 5 out of 5

Perfect product

This is an excellent lens. It is high quality. Sharp images , the SDM motor is quiet and making focuses quickly. I like it very much.

Jeff z.

2017-01-18T10:44:58

Rated 5 out of 5

Well Deserved Reputation

The DA*300 has a well-deserved reputation. I waited for a long time to add this to my collection of Pentax lenses and can say it was worth the wait. It's responsive, light, and sharp. I shoot wildlife with a variety of focal lengths but find the 300-450 range is common for me. So I hook this up with the 1.4 teleconverter and have a great, light setup. So far, it's produced some great images and I'm looking forward to more as I put it through its paces. The quality of build on this is terrific. I enjoy a lens that makes me glad I spent the money.

KATHLEEN S.

2017-01-10T13:48:57

Rated 5 out of 5

Razor sharp/Whisper quiet

When I first began using this lens I thought: ''the autofocus isn't working"! Then I realized it was perfectly in focus, but was not making a sound getting there. Impressive focus speed and sharp, bright images.

JAMES H.

2016-12-18T15:21:29

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent Lens

This lens came highly recommended from friends in the Pentax community. It lives up to it's reputation. It is one of the sharpest lenses I own. The images of birds show amazing detail in the feathers. While not a macro lens, the images of butterflies and other insects on flowers are excellent. It is quiet and focuses quickly. The only thing I miss is a ring for manually setting the aperture. Yes, I'm old school! There are other options for achieving 300mm with less expense. In my experience, none of them match the output of this lens. You won't be disappointed.

ROGER K.

2016-05-12T08:35:39

Rated 5 out of 5

This is a great prime lens

This is a great prime lens. It produces extremely sharp images and, although not the least expensive 300mm, it's also not the most expensive. I find the autofocus to be fast and accurate. The constant F4 is fast enough for most outdoor conditions. Even wide open this lens is sharp.

Robert F.

2015-12-20T10:10:05

Rated 5 out of 5

This lens ended my search for a sharp telephoto lens.

I saved for 2 years to be able to afford this lens. I have read so many great reviews for it and I have been so disappointed in all of the other 300mm options I currently own. This lens lives up to all the hype. Crystal clear, contrast is awesome, excellent bokeh, and super quick auto-focus. I have used this lens for air shows, surfing, baseball, shore birds, and even MACRO work with a set of extension tubes. Take my advice, buy this lens.

RAYMOND S.

2015-12-19T06:13:21

Rated 5 out of 5

Sharp as a tack!

This lens continues to amaze me every time I use it. I have had two other Pentax 300mm lenses in the past, the SMC 300mm F4.0 (K-series for film) and the Pentax SMC-F 100mm-300mm f5.6. This lens shows no noticeable fringing even when shooting into the sun, which I do alot of shooting surfing on the east coast of Florida. It is a tad heavy, but not more than my older Pentax 300mm was and this one has a tripod ring that the older did not. The weather sealing come in handy when I am at the beach. If you have the money, buy this! Anyone looking for a used k-series 300mm......LOL!

RAYMOND S.

2015-11-25T05:44:46

Rated 5 out of 5

Sharp and Lovely

There aren't too many options for Pentax long lenses, fortunately, this one does not disappoint. Sharp, contrasty and with nice bokeh. Overall a lovely lens and a nice complement to the Pentax system.

Acel S.

2014-12-29T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Excellent Lens

It is a prime lens of high quality. Quiet, fast, focus, overall smooth. Everything you would expect for the price. This is a great birding and outdoor lens. The low light usage is limited but logical considering the focal length vs diameter.

PAUL C.

2014-08-18T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

My best Lens!

This lens is simply the best lens I have ever owned. The clarity and accurate focus is overwhelming. The motor is whisper silent. It is expensive and I really had to think a long time before purchasing a lens that cost more than my first car but worth the money indeed.

PAUL C.

2012-12-12T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Not the cheapest but certainly the best

This is a great lens. The build quality is superb and the focus and silky smooth. The removable tripod mount is well thought out and the lens handles very well.

JOSEPH H.

2012-12-12T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

I'm glad I have this lens!

Living in Western Colorado, I try to get out as often as possible to photograph wildlife. In just a couple of weeks time I have captured the wild horses of the Little Book Cliffs and the bald eagles that have returned to the valley to fish the small streams and rivers. This lens has done a beautiful job of capturing the various wildlife on the western slope. By using the 300mm, I didn't have to get too close to the wild horses, thus disturbing them. I am really enjoying the clarity that this lens produces.

LAURIE J.

2012-05-25T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

VERY Happy!

I don't often write reviews for the photo gear I have purchased, but this lens DESERVED a review, and a very high praise one at that. I am primarily a wildlife photographer so I needed a high quality lens that would get me up close to the action without interfering with the wildlife. I primarily photograph marine mammals so it was very important that I could hand-hold the lens that I purchased since having a tripod on a boat is absolutely useless. While this lens is a bit on the heavy side, it small enough that I can easily carry it around on a boat or on hikes without it being too much of a burden (although I do recommend investing in one of those nifty Cotton Carriers if you will be doing a lot of walking around with this thing). This lens takes absolutely stunning images. The photos are tack-sharp, very nice bokeh, and wonderful clarity. Even when I crop in 100% or even 200% the photos still look fantastic. In short, I am very impressed. The only cons of this lens is the weight (it is a bit heavy, but it will help build muscles ;) ), the auto focus is slower than I would like sometimes however it is still very fast, and the hood can be a real pain to get on and off. Otherwise this lens is all aces and I've attached a photo to prove it.

Spyhopper

2011-09-17T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

I bought this lens for my trip to Alaska. Wow! I'm so glad I did. I have attached some photo's from this trip. The bears and whales are right up front with this lens.

Cindee S.

2011-09-03T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Don't judge a lens by its band

good use with SDM macro tube(i use kenko 1.5and remove all lenses), so that i can use this as a macro lens, 1:2 ratio. high performance, from about 0.4m-5m. useful range!

Tablelo

2011-09-03T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

reach out and touch something

This lens is great! Fast auto focus, sharp and accurate. The lens is heavy, but what would you expect in a weather sealed, 300mm lens. You can really reach out and get that impossible shot with this one.

Cindee S.

2010-11-22T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Wow.

Been using a sigma 170-500 non hsm lens. Finally got the combination right with this purchase. Staying in AUH, donot get many choices for Pentax. Thanks adorama for having such a good variety for pentax.

rajesh

2009-08-22T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great telephoto!

As I write this review, I'm looking at a image of a Lanner Falcon (native to the middle-east and a favorite of the Arab shieks) in my photo browser that I took on 8/22 at the Cinti. Zoo. The bird show keeper brought out three birds for members of my photo club to shoot. Wish you could see the detail in the feathers of this beautiful bird. I'm still getting used to the lens on my K20D. I used a bushhawk shoulder stock and shot @ 125 to 180th and between F4.5 and 8 (ISO 400). They weren't quiet as sharp as the birds on my backyard feeder, but those were shot on a weighted-down tripod using a cable release. The zoo shots were very good and the bokeh was wonderful! I'm looking forward to using this lens on a tripod at the zoo soon. Well worth the investment. By the way, just sold my older FA* 300MM Pentax [...] for 89% of what I paid for it six years ago! Pentax rocks!

Michael R.

2008-09-11T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

This is a keeper!

I had a Bigma (Sigma 50-500mm), which I used on an Alaskan Cruise. But when I got back I decided to sell it and get this lens (Pentax DA*300/4) because of weight, better aperture, and weatherproof. I found while trekking about Alaska, that my backpack was starting to feel heavier and heavier as the day wore on. The biggest problem was the Bigma, it was the heaviest lens in my backpack. Also, while out on a boat shooting photos of whales, I had to be careful not to get the Bigma wet because of the salt spray and drizzle. In a nutshell, I decided to get the DA*300/4 for the weatherproof sealing, larger aperture for better focus in the less than ideal light, and it is much lighter to pack around. I wasn't disappointed in performance either! The first thing that I noticed is - what seemed to be broken focus. Nope, it wasn't broken - it was super quiet! The SDM focusing in this lens is fast and quiet. The lens is sharp, sharp, sharp too! I have a K20D, and pixel peep to see what a new lens resolves. This lens out-resolves what the K20D can show. That's right, the lens is sharper than the camera can resolve. So, when Pentax comes out with the next higher sensor, this lens will work just fine. I can't say what the negatives are, I haven't found any yet. It also works just fine with a standard 1.4X teleconverter. The images show very little degradation (another testament to how sharp the lens is to start with!).

TomInJax

2008-05-22T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Superb Lens

Very sharp wide-open and continues through f16. High quality build. Bokeh is smooth and buttery.

Ted

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Pentax 300mm F/4 Specifications

General

General

Jump to...
  • Lens Mount

    Pentax K

  • Lens Format

    APS-C

  • Lens Type

    Super Telephoto

  • Compatibility

    Pentax K-3, Pentax K-01, Pentax K-30, Pentax K-500, Pentax KZ922, Pentax K-5 IIs, Pentax K-3 II, Pentax K-70, Pentax K-S2, Pentax KP, Pentax K-S1, Pentax K-R, Pentax K-50

  • Lens Series

    Pentax DA

  • Kit Style

    Base

  • MPN

    21760

  • Color

    Black

  • Focus Type

    Auto Focus

  • Closest Focus Distance

    4.59 / 1.4m

  • Distance Information

    No

  • Built-In Motor

    No

  • Fixed Focal Length

    300mm

  • Maximum Aperture

    f/4

  • Filter Size

    77mm

  • Angle Of View

    5.4°

  • 35mm Equivalent Focal Length

    450mm

  • Minimum Aperture

    f/32

  • Maximum Magnification

    0.24x

  • Aspherical Elements

    No

Features

Jump to...
  • Image Stabilization Type

    No

  • Tripod Collar

    Yes

  • Waterproof / Water Resistant

    No

  • Dust Resistant

    No

Construction

Jump to...
  • Lens Elements / Groups

    8 Elements in 6 Groups

  • Diaphragm Blades

    9

  • Weight

    2.35lb / 1.07kg

  • Dimensions

    3.3 x 7.2" / 8.38 x 18.29cm

  • UPC Code

    027075141261

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10 Accessories for Pentax SMCP-DA 300mm f/4 ED IF SDM Lens with Hood

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About Pentax 300mm F/4

FEATURED REVIEWS

This is a keeper!

By TomInJax

I had a Bigma (Sigma 50-500mm), which I used on an Alaskan Cruise. But when I got back I decided to sell it and get this lens (Pentax DA*300/4) because of weight, better aperture, and weatherproof. I found while trekking about Alaska, that my backpack was starting to feel heavier and heavier as the day wore on. The biggest problem was the Bigma, it was the heaviest lens in my backpack. Also, while out on a boat shooting photos of whales, I had to be careful not to get the Bigma wet be...

View full Review

Superb Lens

By Ted

Very sharp wide-open and continues through f16. High quality build. Bokeh is smooth and buttery.

Enhance your photographic prowess with the Pentax SMCP-DA 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM Lens, a telephoto titan designed for the discerning photographer. This premium lens, compatible with Pentax digital SLR cameras, extends your reach with a 35mm equivalent focal length of 450mm, perfect for bringing distant subjects into sharp focus.

The advanced SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) autofocus system is a game-changer, providing you with a swift, whisper-quiet focusing experience that is essential for capturing spontaneous wildlife shots or action-packed sports moments. When used with compatible Pentax K10D bodies, the autofocus operation is enhanced by the SDM, while older Pentax SLR models benefit from traditional autofocus capabilities.

Image quality is paramount, and the SMCP-DA 300mm lens doesn't disappoint. It features Pentax's acclaimed smc (Super Multi-Coating) to maximize light transmission, reduce flare, and enhance contrast, delivering images that are sharp and clear. The front element is treated with SP (Super Protective) coating, repelling water, oil, and dirt, making maintenance a breeze.

Precision-engineered to complement the dimensions of the CCD in Pentax digital SLRs, the DA-series lenses, including this 300mm gem, ensure edge-to-edge sharpness and reduced vignetting. The compact design of the lens, a result of this optimization, makes it a more manageable and portable option for photographers on the move.

Durability is at the heart of the DA-series design, and this lens is no exception. Its weather-resistant construction shields it from the elements, allowing you to shoot with confidence in a variety of challenging conditions without concern for moisture or dust.

For those moments when you need to take control, the Quick-Shift Focus System allows for instant switching from autofocus to manual focus, giving you the flexibility to adjust with precision and speed.

The lens construction includes Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements, which combat chromatic aberration and ensure your images are of the highest quality, with true-to-life colors and remarkable detail.

Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, a sports photographer, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the natural world, the Pentax SMCP-DA 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM Lens with Hood is your gateway to capturing the extraordinary. Its exceptional sharpness, even at wide-open apertures, and the smooth, buttery bokeh it produces, make it a standout choice for photographers aiming for professional-grade results.

Pentax 300mm F/4 Features

  • Telephoto Excellence: Designed exclusively for Pentax digital SLR cameras
  • Extended Focal Length: Equivalent to 450mm in the 35mm format
  • SDM System: Ensures smooth, quiet auto-focusing with a built-in supersonic motor
  • smc Coating: Maximizes light transmission, provides sharp definition, and high-contrast images
  • Super Protective (SP) Coating: Unique fluoride compound ensuring water and oil repellence
  • Optimized for Digital SLRs: Perfectly aligned image circle with the 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD in Pentax digital SLRs
  • DA-Series Durability: Weather-resistant and dust-resistant for challenging conditions
  • Quick-Shift Focus System: Instant shift from auto focus to manual focus
  • High Optical Quality: Incorporates Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass to combat chromatic aberration

Key Features

  • Capture stunning detail with this Pentax 300mm lens, perfect for wildlife photography.
  • Experience fast, quiet autofocus with the Pentax DA lens's advanced SDM technology.
  • The f/4 maximum aperture on this telephoto lens excels in low light conditions.
  • Enjoy sharp, high-contrast images with specialized lens coatings on this prime lens.
  • Durable build quality with a tripod collar ensures stability for outdoor shooting.
  • Get closer to the action; the 300mm focal length brings distant subjects into focus.

What's in the box:

  • Lens Hood PH-RBK 77mm
  • Lens Cap O-LC77 77mm
  • Lens Soft Case S120-210
  • Detachable Tripod Mount
  • Rear Lens Cap B
  • U.S.A Pentax Warranty