The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 and the Nikon 500mm f4G 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 500mm f4G ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 391mm. The Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 with a length of 318mm, is 73mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 500mm f4G ED VR also has a larger diameter of 140mm compared to the Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3's 112mm 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. Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 weighs 2115g, which means it is 1765g (45%) lighter than the Nikon 500mm f4G ED VR which has a weight of 3880g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Nikon 500mm f4G ED VR 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 95mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 500mm f4G ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Nikon 500mm f4G ED VR has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Focal Range
Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 has a focal range of 200-600mm and
3.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
300 - 900mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 500mm f4G ED VR 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.
