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 VR II and the Canon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM 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. Canon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM is the longer of the two lenses at 96mm. The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II with a length of 83mm, is 13mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM also has a larger diameter of 77mm compared to the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II's 71mm 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 VR II weighs 335g, which means it is 145g (30%) lighter than the Canon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM which has a weight of 480g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Canon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has a 67mm 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 VR II:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Canon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has the Canon EF-S 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 Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II 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 Canon 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has a focal range of 18-135mm and 7.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 28.8-216mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
