The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS and the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL 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 AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 203mm. The Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS with a length of 108mm, is 95mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS's 64mm 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 E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS weighs 345g, which means it is 1085g (75%) lighter than the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR which has a weight of 1430g.
Filter Threads
The Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR 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 49mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony ZV-E10 II, Sony A6700 and Sony FX30 for the Sony E Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Focal Range
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS has a focal range of 55-210mm and
3.8X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
82.5-315mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR has a focal range of 70-200mm 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 105 - 300mm.