The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S and the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM 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. Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 88mm. The Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S with a length of 85mm, is 3mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM's 82mm 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 Z 14-30mm F4 S weighs 485g, which means it is 90g (15%) lighter than the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM which has a weight of 575g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM 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 Z 14-30mm F4 S:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM has the Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S has a focal range of 14-30mm 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
21 - 45mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM has a focal range of 15-85mm and 5.7X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-136mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
