The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 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. Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is the longer of the two lenses at 84mm. The Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR with a length of 63mm, is 21mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR's 65mm 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. Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR weighs 205g, which means it is 265g (56%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 which has a weight of 470g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a 82mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR is also available in Nikon F (DX) mount.
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR has a focal range of 18-55mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 18mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 27mm.