Compare lenses

Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR vs Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM

The Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR and the Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR if you want coverage of full frame, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too. Pick the Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM if you want a design for APS-C, which usually means smaller and lighter.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR and the Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM

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 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WRPentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM
MakerPentaxPentax
Focal length24-70mm (zoom)16-50mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent24-70mm24-75mm on APS-C
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Made forFull frameAPS-C
MountsPentax KPentax K
Stabilisednono
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range2.9×3.1×
Weight787 gnot listed
Cameras it fits20 in this guide20 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080024-70mm equiv.HD D FA
Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR: 24-70mm.
142435508513520040080024-75mm equiv.smc DA* 16-50mm
Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM: 16-50mm on APS-C, like 24-75mm.

Aperture

f/2.8
Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR: f/2.8 wide open.
f/2.8
Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM: f/2.8 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

HD D FA at 24mm · 74°smc DA* 16-50mm at 16mm · 74°HD D FA at 70mm · 29°smc DA* 16-50mm at 50mm · 27°
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 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR

and 10 more

Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM

and 10 more

On their own pages