The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S and the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL 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 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 358mm. The Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S with a length of 235mm, is 123mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR also has a larger diameter of 160mm compared to the Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S's 104mm 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 400mm F4.5 VR S weighs 1245g, which means it is 2555g (67%) lighter than the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR which has a weight of 3800g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR has a 41mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 95mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S:
And these are the 41mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
400mm but while Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S has the fastest aperture of
F4.5, the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR's widest aperture value is
F2.8.
