The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G and the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR 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. Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G is the longer of the two lenses at 100mm. The PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR with a length of 89mm, is 11mm shorter. On the other hand, the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has a larger diameter of 77mm compared to the Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G's 73mm 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 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR weighs 471g, 4% (23g) lighter than the Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G's weight of 494g.
Filter Threads
The Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G has a filter size of 67mm whereas the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has a 58mm 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 Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR:
Lens Mounts
The Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G has the Sony E lens mount whereas the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has the Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony ZV-E10 II, Sony A6700 and Sony FX30 for the Sony E Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF3 Mount.
Focal Range
Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G has a focal range of 16-55mm and
3.4X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has a focal range of 55-300mm and 5.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 82.5-450mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
