The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic X 35-100mm F2.8 II and the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED 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 70-200mm F2.8ED is the longer of the two lenses at 203mm. The Panasonic X 35-100mm F2.8 II with a length of 100mm, is 103mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Panasonic X 35-100mm F2.8 II's 67mm 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. Panasonic X 35-100mm F2.8 II weighs 357g, which means it is 1398g (79%) lighter than the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED which has a weight of 1755g.
Filter Threads
The Panasonic X 35-100mm F2.8 II has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Panasonic X 35-100mm F2.8 II:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED:
Lens Mounts
The Panasonic X 35-100mm F2.8 II has the Micro Four Thirds lens mount whereas the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED has the Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are OM System OM-3 Astro, OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3 for the Micro Four Thirds Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF3 Mount.
Focal Range
Panasonic X 35-100mm F2.8 II has a focal range of 35-100mm and
2.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
70-200mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED has a focal range of 70-200mm 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 105 - 300mm.
