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 Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 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. Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 is the longer of the two lenses at 128mm. The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II with a length of 83mm, is 45mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 also has a larger diameter of 84mm 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 585g (63%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 which has a weight of 920g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 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 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 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.
Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 is also available in Canon EF 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 Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 135mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 202.5mm.
