The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED VR II and the Nikon 300mm f4E PF 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 300mm f2.8G ED VR II is the longer of the two lenses at 268mm. The Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR with a length of 148mm, is 120mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED VR II also has a larger diameter of 124mm 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, 74% (2150g) lighter than the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED VR II's weight of 2900g.
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 f2.8G ED VR II has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED VR II:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED VR II and the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR 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.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
300mm but while Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED VR II has the fastest aperture of
F2.8, the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR's widest aperture value is
F4.0.