The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR and the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G 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 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II is the longer of the two lenses at 209mm. The Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR with a length of 144mm, is 65mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR's 80mm 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 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR weighs 745g, which means it is 795g (51%) lighter than the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II which has a weight of 1540g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR and the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G 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 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR has a focal range of 70-300mm and
4.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
105 - 450mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 300mm.