The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR and the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM 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. Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 182mm. The Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR with a length of 142mm, is 40mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM also has a larger diameter of 86mm compared to the Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR's 85mm 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 28-400mm F4-8 VR weighs 725g, which means it is 435g (37%) lighter than the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM which has a weight of 1160g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM 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.
Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM is also available in Sigma SA and Canon EF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR has a focal range of 28-400mm and
14.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
42 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM has a focal range of 100-400mm and 4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 150 - 600mm.