The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the PENTAX28-105mm F3.5-5.6 WR and the Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM 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. PENTAX28-105mm F3.5-5.6 WR is the longer of the two lenses at 87mm. The Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM with a length of 66mm, is 21mm shorter. Besides being longer, the PENTAX28-105mm F3.5-5.6 WR also has a larger diameter of 73mm compared to the Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM's 70mm 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. Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM weighs 375g, 14% (65g) lighter than the PENTAX28-105mm F3.5-5.6 WR's weight of 440g.
Filter Threads
The PENTAX28-105mm F3.5-5.6 WR has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the PENTAX28-105mm F3.5-5.6 WR:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM:
Lens Mounts
Both the PENTAX28-105mm F3.5-5.6 WR and the Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM has the same Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF3 lenses are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Focal Range
PENTAX28-105mm F3.5-5.6 WR has a focal range of 28-105mm and
3.8X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
42 - 157.5mm.
On the other hand, the Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 55mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
