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 Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF 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 F4.5 VR S is the longer of the two lenses at 235mm. The Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF with a length of 69mm, is 166mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S also has a larger diameter of 104mm compared to the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF's 62mm 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. Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF weighs 490g, 60% (755g) lighter than the Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S's weight of 1245g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF has a 62mm 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 62mm filters that we recommend for the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF has the Sony E 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 Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount.
Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF is also available in Sony E mount.
Focal Range
Nikon 400mm F4.5 VR S is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 400mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
600mm.
On the other hand, the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 20mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 30mm.
