The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM and the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX 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. Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX is the longer of the two lenses at 97mm. The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM with a length of 75mm, is 22mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM's 69mm 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. Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM weighs 205g, which means it is 405g (66%) lighter than the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX which has a weight of 610g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX 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 Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF Mount.
Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX is also available in Nikon F (DX) mount.
Focal Range
Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has a focal range of 18-55mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
28.8-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX has a focal range of 16-50mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 25.6-80mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.