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 Samyang 16mm f2.0 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. Samyang 16mm f2.0 is the longer of the two lenses at 89mm. The Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX with a length of 78mm, is 11mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Samyang 16mm f2.0's 83mm 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. Samyang 16mm f2.0 weighs 583g, 4% (27g) lighter than the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX's weight of 610g.
Filter Threads
Both the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX and the Samyang 16mm f2.0 have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX and the Samyang 16mm f2.0 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.
Samyang 16mm f2.0 is also available in Canon EF , Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Four Thirds, Micro Four Thirds, Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha, Sony E and Samsung NX mounts.
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 Samyang 16mm f2.0 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 16mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.