Lens Lab
    SMC Pentax-F 100-300 mm f/ 4.5-5.6
    SMC Pentax-F 100-300 mm f/ 4.5-5.6

    SMC Pentax-F 100-300 mm f/ 4.5-5.6

    100–300mm · f/4.5–5.6

    Overview

    The SMC Pentax-F 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 is a telephoto zoom lens offering good center resolution, especially at 300mm, with nice color rendering, low flare, and well-extended contrast. However, it has a rotating front element that complicates filter use, and the zoom collar is unpleasant to use. Build quality concerns include a focusing mechanism that failed after four months for one user. It is somewhat big and heavy, feeling unbalanced on some bodies. This lens suits budget-conscious photographers seeking decent image quality for film or full-frame digital, but reliability issues may deter critical users.