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 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 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II is the longer of the two lenses at 83mm. The Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II with a length of 66mm, is 17mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II also has a larger diameter of 71mm 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, 41% (140g) lighter than the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II's weight of 335g.
Filter Threads
Both the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II and the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II have the same Filter thread size of 52mm.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II 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 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 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.