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 AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED 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 500mm f4D ED-IF II is the longer of the two lenses at 394mm. The Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR with a length of 237mm, is 157mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II also has a larger diameter of 140mm compared to the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR's 61mm 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, 61% (2340g) lighter than the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II's weight of 3800g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Super Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR has a 95mm 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 500mm f4D ED-IF II:
And these are the 95mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II and the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED 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
500mm but while Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II has the fastest aperture of
F4.0, the Nikon AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR's widest aperture value is
F5.6.