The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR and the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS 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 AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 203mm. The Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS with a length of 108mm, is 95mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS's 64mm 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. Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS weighs 345g, 75% (1085g) lighter than the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR's weight of 1430g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS has a 49mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount whereas the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS has the Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount and Sony ZV-E10 II, Sony A6700 and Sony FX30 for the Sony E Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR has a focal range of 70-200mm 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
105 - 300mm.
On the other hand, the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS has a focal range of 55-210mm and 3.8X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 82.5-315mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
