The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR and the Pentax 16-45mm F4 ED AL 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 16-45mm F4 ED AL is the longer of the two lenses at 92mm. The Pentax 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR with a length of 68mm, is 24mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax 16-45mm F4 ED AL also has a larger diameter of 72mm compared to the Pentax 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR's 69mm 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 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR weighs 230g, which means it is 126g (35%) lighter than the Pentax 16-45mm F4 ED AL which has a weight of 356g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Pentax 16-45mm F4 ED AL 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 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Pentax 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax 16-45mm F4 ED AL:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR has the Pentax KAF lens mount whereas the Pentax 16-45mm F4 ED AL has the Pentax 645AF2 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 KAF Mount and , and for the Pentax 645AF2 Mount.
Focal Range
Pentax 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR has a focal range of 18-55mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Pentax 16-45mm F4 ED AL has a focal range of 16-45mm and 2.8X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-67.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
