The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 100-500mm and the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G 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. Canon RF 100-500mm is the longer of the two lenses at 208mm. The Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR with a length of 203mm, is 5mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR has a larger diameter of 96mm compared to the Canon RF 100-500mm's 94mm 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. Canon RF 100-500mm weighs 1365g, which means it is 205g (13%) lighter than the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR which has a weight of 1570g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon RF 100-500mm and the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR 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
The Canon RF 100-500mm has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Focal Range
Canon RF 100-500mm has a focal range of 100-500mm and
5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
160 - 800mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR has a focal range of 80-400mm and 5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 120 - 600mm.