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 Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED 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. Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED is the longer of the two lenses at 81mm. The Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR with a length of 63mm, is 18mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED also has a larger diameter of 83mm 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 150g (42%) lighter than the Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED which has a weight of 355g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED 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 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR and the Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED has the same Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (DX) lenses are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600.
Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR is also available in Nikon F (DX) mount.
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 Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 20mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 30mm.