The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax 50mm F1.8 and the Pentax D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro 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 D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 60mm. The Pentax 50mm F1.8 with a length of 39mm, is 21mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro also has a larger diameter of 68mm compared to the Pentax 50mm F1.8's 63mm 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 50mm F1.8 weighs 122g, which means it is 143g (53%) lighter than the Pentax D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro which has a weight of 265g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax 50mm F1.8 has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Pentax D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro has a 49mm 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 50mm F1.8:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the Pentax 50mm F1.8 and the Pentax D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro has the same Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF lenses are Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
50mm but while Pentax 50mm F1.8 has the fastest aperture of
F1.8, the Pentax D-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro's widest aperture value is
F2.8.