The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax 17-70mm F4.0 AL SDM and the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR 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 24-120mm f4G ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 104mm. The Pentax 17-70mm F4.0 AL SDM with a length of 94mm, is 10mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Pentax 17-70mm F4.0 AL SDM'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 17-70mm F4.0 AL SDM weighs 485g, which means it is 225g (31%) lighter than the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR which has a weight of 710g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax 17-70mm F4.0 AL SDM has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Pentax 17-70mm F4.0 AL SDM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax 17-70mm F4.0 AL SDM has the Pentax KAF3 lens mount whereas the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are , and for the Pentax KAF3 Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Focal Range
Pentax 17-70mm F4.0 AL SDM 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.
On the other hand, the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR has a focal range of 24-120mm and 5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 36 - 180mm.
