The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II and the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II with a length of 95mm, is 22mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II's 78mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II weighs 410g, which means it is 302g (42%) lighter than the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW which has a weight of 712g.
Filter Threads
The Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW:
Lens Mounts
The Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II has the Fujifilm X lens mount whereas the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW has the Pentax KAF4 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Fujifilm X-T30 III, Fujifilm X-E5 and Fujifilm X-M5 for the Fujifilm X Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF4 Mount.
Focal Range
Fujifilm 16-55mm F2.8 II has a focal range of 16-55mm and
3.4X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW has a focal range of 16-50mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
