The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon AF-S Fisheye 8-15mm F3.5-4.5 and the Nikon 17-35mm 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 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF is the longer of the two lenses at 106mm. The Nikon AF-S Fisheye 8-15mm F3.5-4.5 with a length of 83mm, is 23mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Nikon AF-S Fisheye 8-15mm F3.5-4.5's 78mm 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 AF-S Fisheye 8-15mm F3.5-4.5 weighs 485g, which means it is 260g (34%) lighter than the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF which has a weight of 745g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Fisheye Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon AF-S Fisheye 8-15mm F3.5-4.5 and the Nikon 17-35mm 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 AF-S Fisheye 8-15mm F3.5-4.5 has a focal range of 8-15mm and
1.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
12 - 22.5mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF has a focal range of 17-35mm and 2.1X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 25.5 - 52.5mm.