The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW 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 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW is the longer of the two lenses at 242mm. The Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED with a length of 203mm, is 39mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW also has a larger diameter of 95mm compared to the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED's 92mm 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 D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED weighs 1755g, 12% (245g) lighter than the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW's weight of 2000g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW has a filter size of 86mm 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 86mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED:
Lens Mounts
Both the Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW and the Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED 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 Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Focal Range
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW has a focal range of 150-450mm and
3.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
225 - 675mm.
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.