Sony DT 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SAM Lens
The Sony SAL55300 is a 55–300mm f/4.5 lens designed for Sony A mount cameras. Check GearFocus for current availability, with buyer protection on every purchase.
Sony DT 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SAM Lens
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Lens Overview — Sony SAL55300
Key Features — Sony SAL55300
55-300mm Telephoto Zoom: Covers a wide telephoto range from 55mm to 300mm, making it useful for wildlife, sports, and distant subjects.
f/4.5-5.6 Variable Aperture: Opens at f/4.5 at the wide end, stepping down to f/5.6 at 300mm — a typical arrangement for this class of telephoto zoom.
Sony A-Mount Compatibility: Designed specifically for Sony's A-mount DSLR system, ensuring native compatibility with cameras like the Sony Alpha series.
APS-C Format Design: Optimized for APS-C sensors, where the 300mm focal length delivers an effective reach of approximately 450mm.
SAM Autofocus Motor: Smooth Autofocus Motor built into the lens enables quieter, more responsive autofocus without relying solely on the camera body.
Manual Focus Override: Allows the shooter to switch to manual focus control for precise adjustments when autofocus isn't ideal.
Lens Specifications — Sony SAL55300
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use Cases | Wildlife, Sports, Travel |
| Lens Type | Zoom |
| Format | APS-C |
| Zoom/Prime | Zoom |
| Focal Length | 55–300mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/4.5 |
| Camera System | DSLR |
| Lens Mount | Sony A |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Focus Type | Auto, Manual |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Filter Thread | 62mm |
Description — Sony SAL55300
The Sony DT 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 is a zoom telephoto lens designed for APS-C format Sony A-mount DSLR cameras. It spans a 55mm to 300mm focal length range, giving photographers meaningful reach for distant subjects across a variety of shooting scenarios. The maximum aperture is f/4.5 at the wide end, tapering to f/5.6 at full zoom — a variable aperture arrangement common in this lens category.
Both autofocus and manual focus are supported, offering flexibility across different shooting styles. A 62mm filter thread makes it straightforward to attach standard filters for protection or creative effects. At 460g, the lens balances reach with portability for a telephoto zoom.
One notable consideration is the absence of built-in image stabilization, so photographers shooting at the longer end of the zoom range in lower light conditions should factor this into their camera body selection.
Pros — Sony SAL55300
- ✓Wide telephoto zoom range from 55mm to 300mm covers a broad range of distant subjects
- ✓Supports both autofocus and manual focus (focusType: Auto, Manual)
- ✓APS-C format design matches the sensor size of Sony A-mount DSLR cameras
Cons — Sony SAL55300
- ✗No image stabilization built into the lens (imageStabilization: None), which can be a disadvantage at longer focal lengths
- ✗Variable maximum aperture of f/4.5-5.6 means reduced light gathering at the 300mm end
- ✗Restricted to Sony A-mount cameras only, limiting compatibility to that specific system
Videos — Sony SAL55300
Unboxing Sony DT SAL 55-300 mm f4.5-5.6 SAM telephoto lens for Sony Alpha. — Lucio Busa Photography