The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX and the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G 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 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 215mm. The Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX with a length of 135mm, is 80mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX's 78mm 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. Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX weighs 845g, which means it is 625g (42%) lighter than the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR which has a weight of 1470g.
Filter Threads
The Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX has the Canon EF lens mount whereas the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX is also available in Nikon F (DX) mount.
Focal Range
Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 DX has a focal range of 50-135mm and
2.7X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
80-216mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G 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.