The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 600mm F4E FL ED VR and the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM 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. Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 544mm. The Nikon 600mm F4E FL ED VR with a length of 432mm, is 112mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 600mm F4E FL ED VR has a larger diameter of 166mm compared to the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM's 157mm 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 600mm F4E FL ED VR weighs 3810g, which means it is 2070g (35%) lighter than the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM which has a weight of 5880g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 600mm F4E FL ED VR has a filter size of 40mm whereas the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM has a 46mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 40mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 600mm F4E FL ED VR:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 600mm F4E FL ED VR and the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM 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.
Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM is also available in Sigma SA and Canon EF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon 600mm F4E FL ED VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 600mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
900mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM has a focal range of 300-800mm and 2.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 450 - 1200mm.
