The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G and the Nikon 500mm F4E FL 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 500mm F4E FL ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 387mm. The Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G with a length of 125mm, is 262mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR also has a larger diameter of 140mm compared to the Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G's 72mm 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 AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G weighs 400g, which means it is 2690g (87%) lighter than the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR which has a weight of 3090g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR has a 40mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G:
And these are the 40mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G has a focal range of 70-300mm and
4.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
105-450mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Nikon 500mm F4E FL ED VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 500mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 750mm.
