The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 S and the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM 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. Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM is the longer of the two lenses at 193mm. The Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 S with a length of 118mm, is 75mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM also has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 S's 84mm 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 Z 24-120mm F4 S weighs 630g, which means it is 960g (60%) lighter than the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM which has a weight of 1590g.
Filter Threads
Both the Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 S and the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM has the Canon EF 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 Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 S has a focal range of 24-120mm and
5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
36 - 180mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM has a focal range of 100-400mm and 4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 160 - 640mm.
