The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF and the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR 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 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF with a length of 76mm, is 9mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF has a larger diameter of 73mm compared to the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR's 72mm 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 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF weighs 420g, which means it is 65g (13%) lighter than the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR which has a 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
Both the Nikon 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF and the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR have the same Filter thread size of 67mm.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF and the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR 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 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF has a focal range of 18-70mm and
3.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-105mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the 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.