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 Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S 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 Z 24-70mm F2.8 S is the longer of the two lenses at 126mm. The Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW with a length of 117mm, is 9mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW'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 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW weighs 712g, which means it is 93g (11%) lighter than the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S which has a weight of 805g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S has a 82mm 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 82mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW has the Pentax KAF4 lens mount whereas the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S has the Nikon Z 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 Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z 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 Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S has a focal range of 24-70mm 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 36 - 105mm.
