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 500mm f4D ED-IF II 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 500mm f4D ED-IF II is the longer of the two lenses at 394mm. The Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S with a length of 385mm, is 9mm shorter. On the other hand, there is no difference between the max diameters of these lenses, both coming at 140mm.
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 500mm f4D ED-IF II 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 500mm f4D ED-IF II has a 52mm 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 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Nikon 500mm f4D ED-IF II 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 500mm f4D ED-IF II is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 500mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 750mm.
