The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM 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. Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR is the longer of the two lenses at 110mm. The Pentax DA 55mm F1.4 SDM with a length of 66mm, is 44mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR also has a larger diameter of 89mm 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, 52% (412g) lighter than the Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR's weight of 787g.
Lens Mounts
Both the Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM 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
Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR has a focal range of 24-70mm and
2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
36 - 105mm.
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.
