What is the HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR best used for?

Wedding & Events, Landscape, Astrophotography.

How much does the HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR cost in the UK?

The HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR starts from £1179 in the UK, available new at 2 retailers. Prices are tracked live on GearFrame.

Pentax

Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR

Name: HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR
Brand: Pentax
Availability: InStock

Pentax's flagship standard zoom for full-frame and APS-C DSLR bodies — the HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR covers the most versatile everyday range at a constant f/2.8 aperture with full weather sealing. On the K-3 Mark III it delivers a 36–107mm full-frame equivalent range — wide enough for environmental shots and long enough for compelling portraits. Built to the same weather-resistance standard as the K-3 Mark III body, it is the natural professional zoom pairing for serious Pentax DSLR work.

GearFrame's Take

The professional zoom for Pentax DSLR shooters — weather-sealed to the same standard as the K-3 Mark III, with a constant f/2.8 across the full range.

Starting from

£1179 new

Used from £538 (eBay)

Available at 2 retailers

Check price at Wex Photo Video

✓ Available at 2 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only

RetailerPrice

New

eBay

Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace

£712

Search eBay →

Wex Photo Video

£1179

Check on Wex Photo Video →

Clifton Cameras

£1179

Check on Clifton Cameras →

Amazon

—

Check on Amazon →

Used

eBay used

Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace

£538

Search eBay →

Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.

Value & Depreciation

£1150

Launch price

→

£999

Today

13%

Value drop

Over ~11 years, this lens has cost roughly £14/year to own (buy at launch price, sell today). That's one of the lower cost-per-year lenses in its class.

Core

Released

2015

Focal Length

24–70mm

Aperture

f/2.8

Compatible Mount

Pentax KF-mount

Dimensions

92mm diameter × 133mm length

Weight

812g

Weather Sealed

Yes

Optics & Focus

AF Motor

SDM (Supersonic Drive Motor) — fast and quiet

Optical IS

None (relies on body SR/IBIS)

Min. Focus Distance

38cm minimum focus distance

Select up to 2 cameras to compare against the HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR. It's always pinned as the baseline.

Select 1–3 cameras to compare

2 cameras compatible with the Pentax KF-mount mount.

GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait

6.8

Street

6.3

Travel

6.2

Wedding & Events

8.1

Vlogging & Video

5.2

Filmmaking

5.8

Documentary

6.5

Landscape

7.3

Casual

6.1

Food

5.4

Architecture

6.9

Astrophotography

7.1

Underwater

7.1

✅ Great For

💍

Wedding & Events 8.1 Strong on focal length, autofocus and optical quality. Constant f/2.8 and full weather sealing make this the professional choice for Pentax DSLR wedding photographers.

🌄

Landscape 7.3 Strong on optical quality, focal length and weather sealing. Weather-sealed to match the K-3 Mark III — shoot in rain and harsh conditions with confidence across the full range.

🌌

Astrophotography 7.1 Strong on focal length, optical quality and distance scale.

⚠️ Not Ideal For

📱

Vlogging & Video 5.2 Held back by video handling and optical stabilisation.

📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →