The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF and the Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL 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 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF is the longer of the two lenses at 106mm. The Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL with a length of 84mm, is 22mm shorter. On the other hand, the Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF's 83mm 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 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL weighs 430g, 42% (315g) lighter than the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF's weight of 745g.
Filter Threads
Both the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF and the Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL 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 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount whereas the Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL has the Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF has a focal range of 17-35mm and
2.1X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
25.5 - 52.5mm.
On the other hand, the Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL has a focal range of 12-24mm and 2.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 18-36mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
