The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 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 Z 800mm F6.3 VR S is the longer of the two lenses at 385mm. The Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR with a length of 358mm, is 27mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR has a larger diameter of 160mm compared to the Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S's 140mm 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 800mm F6.3 VR S weighs 2385g, which means it is 1415g (37%) lighter than the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR which has a weight of 3800g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S has a filter size of 46mm 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 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S:
And these are the 41mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 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
Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 800mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR 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.
