The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED and the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF 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 180mm f2.8D ED-IF is the longer of the two lenses at 144mm. The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED with a length of 79mm, is 65mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF also has a larger diameter of 79mm compared to the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED's 68mm 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 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED weighs 255g, which means it is 505g (66%) lighter than the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF which has a weight of 760g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF 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.
Focal Range
Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED has a focal range of 55-200mm and
3.6X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
82.5-300mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 180mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 270mm.
