The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX 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 Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX with a length of 78mm, is 21mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR's 79mm 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 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR weighs 550g, 9% (60g) lighter than the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX's weight of 610g.
Filter Threads
The Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX has a filter size of 77mm 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 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX and the Nikon 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR has the same Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (DX) lenses are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600.
Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX is also available in Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX has a focal range of 17-135mm and
7.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
25.5-202.5mm 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.