The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 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. Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED is the longer of the two lenses at 99mm. The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 70mm, is 29mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6's 72mm 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. Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 weighs 237g, which means it is 328g (58%) lighter than the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED which has a weight of 565g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED 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 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Pentax smc 16-50mm F2.8 ED:
Lens Mounts
The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has the Pentax KAF 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 Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount and , and for the Pentax KAF2 Mount.
Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in the Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has a focal range of 28-80mm 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
42 - 120mm.
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.
