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 f4G 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 70-200mm f4G ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 179mm. The Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR with a length of 144mm, is 35mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR has a larger diameter of 80mm compared to the Nikon 70-200mm f4G ED VR's 78mm 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 105g (12%) lighter than the Nikon 70-200mm f4G ED VR which has a weight of 850g.
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
Both the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR and the Nikon 70-200mm f4G ED VR have the same Filter thread size of 67mm.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR and the Nikon 70-200mm f4G 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
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 f4G ED VR 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.