The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW and the HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd 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 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd with a length of 27mm, is 90mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd's 64mm 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. HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd weighs 155g, 78% (557g) lighter than the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW's weight of 712g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW has a filter size of 77mm whereas the HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd has a 49mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW has the Pentax KAF4 lens mount whereas the HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd 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 KAF4 Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount.
Focal Range
Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW 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.
On the other hand, the HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 43mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 64.5mm.
