The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G 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 an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses. Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D IF is the longer of the two lenses at 83mm. The Nikon 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR with a length of 82mm, is 1mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D IF also has a larger diameter of 79mm compared to the Nikon 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR's 78mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Nikon 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR weighs 485g, which means it is 60g (11%) lighter than the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D IF which has a weight of 545g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G 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
Both lenses have the same focal range of 24-85mm but while Nikon 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR has the fastest aperture of F3.5 - F4.5, the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4D IF's widest aperture value is F2.8 - F4.0.