The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR and the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM 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 500mm F4E FL ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 387mm. The Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM with a length of 350mm, is 37mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR also has a larger diameter of 140mm compared to the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM's 123mm 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 500mm F4E FL ED VR weighs 3090g, which means it is 60g (1%) lighter than the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM which has a weight of 3150g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Super Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR has a filter size of 40mm whereas the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM has a 46mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 40mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR and the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
500mm but while Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR has the fastest aperture of
F4.0, the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM's widest aperture value is
F4.5.