The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 and the Panasonic 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 OIS 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. Panasonic 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 90mm. The Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 with a length of 86mm, is 4mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 has a larger diameter of 73mm compared to the Panasonic 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 OIS's 62mm 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. Panasonic 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 OIS weighs 210g, 48% (195g) lighter than the Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3's weight of 405g.
Filter Threads
The Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Panasonic 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 OIS has a 46mm 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 Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 OIS:
Lens Mounts
The Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 has the Sony Alpha lens mount whereas the Panasonic 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 OIS has the Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58 for the Sony Alpha Mount and OM System OM-3 Astro, OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3 for the Micro Four Thirds Mount.
Focal Range
Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 has a focal range of 18-200mm and
11.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-300mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Panasonic 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 OIS has a focal range of 45-175mm and 3.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 90-350mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
