The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM and the Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR 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 AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR VR is the longer of the two lenses at 304mm. The Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM with a length of 264mm, is 40mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR VR also has a larger diameter of 128mm compared to the Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM's 124mm diameter.
Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM and Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR VR to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
Comparison image of the Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM and the Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR VR Size and Weight 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 300mm f2.8 GM weighs 1470g, which means it is 1780g (54%) lighter than the Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR VR which has a weight of 3250g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM has a filter size of 41mm whereas the Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR VR has a 112mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 41mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM:
And these are the 112mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR VR:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR 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 300mm f2.8 GM 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 .
On the other hand, the Nikon AF-S 120-300mm F2.8E FL ED SR VR has a focal range of 120-300mm and 2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 180 - 450mm .
