The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED 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 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II is the longer of the two lenses at 111mm. The Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED with a length of 99mm, is 12mm shorter. On the other hand, the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II's 83mm 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 smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED weighs 565g, 41% (409g) lighter than the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II's weight of 974g.
Filter Threads
Both the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Sony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II has the Sony Alpha lens mount whereas the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED has the Pentax KAF2 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount and , and for the Pentax KAF2 Mount.
Focal Range
Sony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II has a focal range of 24-70mm and
2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
36 - 105mm.
On the other hand, the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED has a focal range of 16-50mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
