The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR and the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D 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 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 155mm. The Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D IF with a length of 83mm, is 72mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR also has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D 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 24-85mm f2.8-4D IF weighs 545g, 49% (525g) lighter than the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR's weight of 1070g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D 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 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D IF:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR and the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D 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 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR has a focal range of 24-70mm and
2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
36 - 105mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D IF has a focal range of 24-85mm and 3.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 36 - 127.5mm.