The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR and the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II 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 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 85mm. The Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II with a length of 66mm, is 19mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR also has a larger diameter of 72mm compared to the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II's 60mm 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 II weighs 195g, 59% (290g) lighter than the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR's weight of 485g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (DX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Nikon F (DX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR and the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II 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.
Focal Range
Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR has a focal range of 16-85mm and
5.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-127.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II 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.
