The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport and the Nikon 400mm f2.8D 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. Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport is the longer of the two lenses at 380mm. The Nikon 400mm f2.8D ED-IF II with a length of 352mm, is 28mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 400mm f2.8D ED-IF II has a larger diameter of 160mm compared to the Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport's 145mm 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. Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport weighs 3310g, which means it is 1490g (31%) lighter than the Nikon 400mm f2.8D ED-IF II which has a weight of 4800g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Super Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Nikon 400mm f2.8D 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 Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 400mm f2.8D ED-IF II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport and the Nikon 400mm f2.8D ED-IF II 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.
Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport is also available in Sigma SA and Canon EF mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport 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.
On the other hand, the Nikon 400mm f2.8D ED-IF II 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.