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 Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD 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 Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD with a length of 82mm, is 28mm 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 Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD's 74mm 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. Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD weighs 430g, 45% (357g) lighter than the Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR's weight of 787g.
Lens Mounts
The Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR has the Pentax KAF3 lens mount whereas the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD has the Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF3 Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount.
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
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 Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD has a focal range of 17-50mm and 2.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 25.5-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
