Compare lenses

Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW vs Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

The Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW and the Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW if you want more reach (to 450mm equivalent) and coverage of full frame, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too. Pick the Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR if you want a brighter f/4 (0.3 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a wider view (from 75mm equivalent); and a design for APS-C, which usually means smaller and lighter.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW and the Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecPentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AWPentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR
MakerPentaxPentax
Focal length150-450mm (zoom)50-200mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent150-450mm75-300mm on APS-C
Maximum aperturef/4.5-5.6f/4-5.6brighter
Made forFull frameAPS-C
MountsPentax KPentax K
Stabilisednono
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range3.0×4.0×more range
Weight2000 gnot listed
Cameras it fits20 in this guide20 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

1424355085135200400800150-450mm equiv.HD D FA
Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW: 150-450mm.
142435508513520040080075-300mm equiv.smc DA 50-200mm
Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR: 50-200mm on APS-C, like 75-300mm.

Aperture

f/4.5
Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW: f/4.5 wide open.
f/4
Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR: f/4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

smc DA 50-200mm at 50mm · 27°HD D FA at 150mm · 14°smc DA 50-200mm at 200mm · 7°HD D FA at 450mm · 5°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

20 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.

Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW

and 10 more

Pentax smc DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR

and 10 more

On their own pages