Compare lenses

Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR vs Pentax HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE

The Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR and the Pentax HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR if you want a brighter f/3.5 (0.4 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; more reach (to 128mm equivalent); and a wider view (from 24mm equivalent). On these specs the Pentax HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR and the Pentax HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR	Pentax HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE
Maker	Pentax	Pentax
Focal length	16-85mm (zoom)	18-50mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	24-128mm on APS-C	27-75mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/3.5-5.6brighter	f/4-5.6
Made for	APS-C	APS-C
Mounts	Pentax K	Pentax K
Stabilised	no	no
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	5.3×more range	2.8×
Weight	488 g	not listed
Cameras it fits	20 in this guide	20 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR: 16-85mm on APS-C, like 24-128mm.

Pentax HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE: 18-50mm on APS-C, like 27-75mm.

Aperture

Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR: f/3.5 wide open.

Pentax HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE: 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

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.