The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II and the Nikon 200mm f2G ED VR II 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 f4D ED-IF II is the longer of the two lenses at 394mm. The Nikon 200mm f2G ED VR II with a length of 204mm, is 190mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II also has a larger diameter of 140mm compared to the Nikon 200mm f2G 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 200mm f2G ED VR II weighs 2930g, 22% (870g) lighter than the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II's weight of 3800g.
Filter Threads
Both the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II and the Nikon 200mm f2G ED VR II 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
Both the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II and the Nikon 200mm f2G ED VR II 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 500mm f4D ED-IF II 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 200mm f2G ED VR II is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 200mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 300mm.