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 Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX 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. Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX is the longer of the two lenses at 135mm. The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II with a length of 83mm, is 52mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX also has a larger diameter of 78mm 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 510g (60%) lighter than the Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX which has a weight of 845g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (DX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (DX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX 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 Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II and the Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX 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.
Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX 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 Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX has a focal range of 50-135mm and 2.7X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 75-202.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
