The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2 and the Nikon 300mm f4E PF 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 300mm f4E PF VR is the longer of the two lenses at 148mm. The Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2 with a length of 75mm, is 73mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2's 78mm 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. Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2 weighs 548g, which means it is 202g (26%) lighter than the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR which has a weight of 750g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2 has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2 and the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2 is also available in Canon EF , Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
Samyang MF 85mm F1.4 Mk2 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
127.5mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 300mm f4E PF VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 450mm.