The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF and the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED 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. Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF is the longer of the two lenses at 111mm. The Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED with a length of 99mm, is 12mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF also has a larger diameter of 86mm compared to the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED's 84mm 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 smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED weighs 565g, 25% (190g) lighter than the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF's weight of 755g.
Filter Threads
Both the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF and the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED has the Pentax KAF2 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount and , and for the Pentax KAF2 Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF has a focal range of 17-55mm and
3.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
25.5-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED 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.
