HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WRvs A6400
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
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.
Content Creation & Vlogging — A6400 (2019): The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
Who should buy what
A6400 (2019)
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
Quick take: The hd da★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ed dc wr 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) | A6400 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £899 |
| Sensor | f/3.5-5.6 (variable max aperture) | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | 35cm minimum focus distance | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | DC (Direct Clutch) motor — smooth and quiet | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on body SR/IBIS) | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking |
| Battery Life | N/A | ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 488g | 403g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 74mm diameter × 93.5mm length | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | N/A | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | N/A | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | HD DA★ 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR | A6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
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