The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II and the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM 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 Z 24-70mm F2.8 II is the longer of the two lenses at 142mm. The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM with a length of 88mm, is 54mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM's 81mm 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 DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM weighs 577g, 14% (98g) lighter than the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II's weight of 675g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM 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 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM has the Sony Alpha 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 Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58 for the Sony Alpha Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II 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 Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM has a focal range of 16-50mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
