The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 and the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II 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. Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 is the longer of the two lenses at 83mm. The Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II with a length of 66mm, is 17mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 also has a larger diameter of 73mm compared to the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II's 60mm 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 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II weighs 195g, 33% (100g) lighter than the Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6's weight of 295g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II has a 52mm 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 FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount and Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount.
Focal Range
Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 has a focal range of 28-70mm and
2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
42 - 105mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR II has a focal range of 18-55mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
