The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR and the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO 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. Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 215mm. The Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR with a length of 148mm, is 67mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 119mm compared to the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR's 89mm 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 300mm f4E PF VR weighs 750g, which means it is 1650g (68%) lighter than the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM which has a weight of 2400g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO 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 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR and the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO 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 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
300mm but while Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR has the fastest aperture of
F4.0, the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM's widest aperture value is
F2.8.
