The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE and the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C 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. Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C is the longer of the two lenses at 82mm. The Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE with a length of 71mm, is 11mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C also has a larger diameter of 79mm compared to the Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE's 41mm 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 DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE weighs 158g, which means it is 307g (66%) lighter than the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C which has a weight of 465g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Pentax KAF3 Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Pentax KAF3 Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C has a 72mm 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 Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C:
Lens Mounts
Both the Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE and the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C 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.
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C is also available in Canon EF , Sony Alpha, Sigma SA and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Focal Range
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE has a focal range of 18-50mm and
2.8X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM C has a focal range of 17-70mm and 4.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 25.5-105mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.