The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM and the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G 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 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 99mm. The Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM with a length of 85mm, is 14mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR also has a larger diameter of 79mm compared to the Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM'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. Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM weighs 305g, which means it is 245g (44%) lighter than the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR which has a weight of 550g.
Filter Threads
The Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G 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 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM has the Sony Alpha lens mount whereas the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR has the Nikon F (DX) 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 Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount.
Focal Range
Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM has a focal range of 55-200mm and
3.6X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
82.5-300mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR has a focal range of 18-300mm and 16.7X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27-450mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.