The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S 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 Z 50mm F1.8 S with a length of 87mm, is 19mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S's 76mm 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 50mm F1.8 S weighs 415g, which means it is 330g (44%) lighter than the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF which has a weight of 745g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF has the Nikon F (FX) 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 Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75mm.
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.
