The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR 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 200mm f2G ED-IF VR is the longer of the two lenses at 203mm. The Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF with a length of 144mm, is 59mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR also has a larger diameter of 124mm compared to the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF's 79mm 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 180mm f2.8D ED-IF weighs 760g, 73% (2140g) lighter than the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR's weight of 2900g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR 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 200mm f2G ED-IF VR:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR and the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Focal Range
Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 200mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
300mm.
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.