HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WRvs 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Pentax HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Pentax HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR (2013) Starting from £699 new Best for Travel, landscape & documentary photography View HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR
VS
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary (2021) Starting from £649 new Best for Everyday, travel & events on Fujifilm or Sony APS-C View 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary

GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?

Travel, Landscape & Documentary Photography — HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR (2013): The natural travel zoom for Pentax K-3 owners — weather-sealed, DA★ quality, and covers wide to short-telephoto in one versatile barrel.

Everyday, Travel & Events On Fujifilm Or Sony Aps-C — 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary (2021): The lightest f/2.8 standard zoom ever made — 290g is astonishing for a lens of this capability, and it optically over-delivers at the price.

↓ Full specifications below

Who should buy what

Quick take: The 18-50mm f/2.8 dc dn contemporary is the most affordable; only the hd da★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ed dc wr is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR (2013)18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary (2021)
Price £699 £649
Sensor f/3.5-5.6 (variable max aperture) Fujifilm X mount (APS-C)
Video 35cm minimum focus distance N/A — lens
Autofocus DC (Direct Clutch) motor — smooth and quiet Stepping motor — fast, quiet, video-friendly
Stabilisation None (relies on body SR/IBIS) None
Burst Rate N/A N/A
Battery Life N/A N/A
Weight 488g 290g
Dimensions 74mm diameter × 93.5mm length 65.4mm diameter × 76.8mm length
Weather Sealed Yes No
Viewfinder N/A N/A
Screen N/A N/A
Mount Pentax KF-mount 55mm filter thread
Memory Cards N/A N/A
Connectivity N/A N/A

Suitability by genre

Genre HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary
Travel
9.0
9.0
Landscape
9.0
—
Portrait
7.0
7.0
Street —
9.0
⚡ Compare specs side by side HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR prices → 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary prices →

More comparisons with HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR

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