The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR and the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF 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-IF VR is the longer of the two lenses at 268mm. The Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR with a length of 237mm, is 31mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR also has a larger diameter of 124mm compared to the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR's 106mm 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-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR weighs 1460g, which means it is 1390g (48%) lighter than the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR which has a weight of 2850g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 95mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR and the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF 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
Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF 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.
On the other hand, the Nikon 300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 450mm.
