The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 200-400mm f4G ED VR II and the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM 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 200-400mm f4G ED VR II is the longer of the two lenses at 366mm. The Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM with a length of 343mm, is 23mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM has a larger diameter of 163mm compared to the Nikon 200-400mm f4G ED VR II's 124mm 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 200-400mm f4G ED VR II weighs 3360g, which means it is 490g (12%) lighter than the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM which has a weight of 3850g.
Filter Threads
Both the Nikon 200-400mm f4G ED VR II and the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM have the same Filter thread size of 52mm.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 200-400mm f4G ED VR II has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount whereas the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon 200-400mm f4G ED VR II has a focal range of 200-400mm and
2.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
300 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 400mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 640mm.
