The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED and the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR 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 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 85mm. The Pentax 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED with a length of 76mm, is 9mm shorter. On the other hand, the Pentax 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED has a larger diameter of 73mm compared to the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR's 72mm 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. Pentax 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED weighs 405g, which means it is 80g (16%) lighter than the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR which has a weight of 485g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR has a 67mm 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 Pentax 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED has the Pentax KAF3 lens mount whereas the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are , and for the Pentax KAF3 Mount and Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount.
Focal Range
Pentax 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED has a focal range of 18-135mm and
7.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-202.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR has a focal range of 16-85mm and 5.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-127.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.