The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM and the Nikon 800mm f5.6E FL 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 800mm f5.6E FL ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 461mm. The Sony FE 600mm F4 GM with a length of 449mm, is 12mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM has a larger diameter of 164mm compared to the Nikon 800mm f5.6E FL ED VR's 160mm 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 600mm F4 GM weighs 3040g, which means it is 1550g (33%) lighter than the Nikon 800mm f5.6E FL ED VR which has a weight of 4590g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 600mm F4 GM has a filter size of 41mm whereas the Nikon 800mm f5.6E FL 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 41mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 800mm f5.6E FL ED VR:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 600mm F4 GM has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Nikon 800mm f5.6E FL 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 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.
On the other hand, the Nikon 800mm f5.6E FL ED VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 800mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 1200mm.
