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 Sony FE 600mm F4 GM 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. Sony FE 600mm F4 GM is the longer of the two lenses at 449mm. The Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S with a length of 385mm, is 64mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM also has a larger diameter of 164mm compared to the Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S's 140mm diameter.
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Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S and Sony FE 600mm F4 GM to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
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 655g (21%) lighter than the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM which has a weight of 3040g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM 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 Sony FE 600mm F4 GM:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM has the Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon Zf, Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z30 for the Nikon Z Mount and Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR for the Sony E 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 Sony FE 600mm F4 GM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 600mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 900mm.