The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 400mm F2.8 TC and the Nikon AF-S 180-400mm F4E TC 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 Z 400mm F2.8 TC is the longer of the two lenses at 380mm. The Nikon AF-S 180-400mm F4E TC VR with a length of 363mm, is 17mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon Z 400mm F2.8 TC also has a larger diameter of 156mm compared to the Nikon AF-S 180-400mm F4E TC VR's 128mm 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 400mm F2.8 TC weighs 2950g, which means it is 550g (15%) lighter than the Nikon AF-S 180-400mm F4E TC VR which has a weight of 3500g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 400mm F2.8 TC has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Nikon AF-S 180-400mm F4E TC 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 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 400mm F2.8 TC:
And these are the 41mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon AF-S 180-400mm F4E TC VR:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 400mm F2.8 TC has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Nikon AF-S 180-400mm F4E TC 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
Nikon Z 400mm F2.8 TC 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 Nikon AF-S 180-400mm F4E TC VR has a focal range of 180-400mm and 2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 270 - 600mm.
