The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL and the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II 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. Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II is the longer of the two lenses at 89mm. The Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL with a length of 84mm, is 5mm shorter. On the other hand, the Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II's 75mm 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 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL weighs 430g, which means it is 10g (2%) lighter than the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II which has a weight of 440g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II has a 67mm 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 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL has the Pentax KAF lens mount whereas the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II has the Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount and Olympus E-5, Olympus E-600 and Olympus E-620 for the Four Thirds Mount.
Focal Range
Pentax 12-24mm F4.0 ED AL has a focal range of 12-24mm and
2.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
18-36mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II has a focal range of 14-54mm and 3.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 28-108mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.