Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR vs Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR

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AF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR compared with AF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR

	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR
Overview
Released
Released	September 2015	November 2016
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	200–500 mm	70–200 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6	f/2.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	19 elements in 12 groups; internal focusing	22 elements in 18 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Three ED elements	Six ED, one fluorite and one high-refractive-index element
Coatings
Coatings	Super Integrated Coating	Nano Crystal and Super Integrated coatings; fluorine front coating
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Constant f/5.6 maximum and f/32 minimum; electromagnetic diaphragm for consistent exposure during high-speed bursts	Constant f/2.8 maximum and f/22 minimum; electromagnetic diaphragm for consistent exposure during high-speed bursts
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 12°20′–5°00′; DX 8°00′–3°10′	FX 34°20′–12°20′; DX 22°50′–8°00′
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Nikon F mount with full-frame/FX coverage; also usable on DX cameras	Nikon F mount with full-frame/FX coverage; also usable on DX cameras. Electronic aperture is not supported by some older Nikon DSLRs, as Digital Camera World notes; check the individual camera's support
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Nikon lists TC-14E, TC-14E II and TC-14E III with autofocus only on f/8-compatible cameras; TC-17E II, TC-20E, TC-20E II and TC-20E III are compatible without autofocus	Nikon lists AF-I/AF-S TC-14E, TC-14E II, TC-14E III, TC-17E II, TC-20E, TC-20E II and TC-20E III as compatible accessories
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	2.2 m	1.1 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.22×	0.21×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silent Wave Motor with manual focus override	Silent Wave Motor; internal focusing with automatic and manual-priority override modes
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum 2.2 m from focal plane throughout the zoom range; Photography Blog confirms full-range or 6 m–infinity limiter and internal focusing	Minimum 1.1 m from focal plane; limiter selects full 1.1 m–infinity or 5 m–infinity
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum 0.22× according to Nikon; Photography Blog's measured 1:4.3 is not substituted for the maker specification	Maximum 0.21×
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	4.5-stop CIPA claim in Normal mode on an FX DSLR at maximum telephoto; Sport mode assists tracking moving subjects	Four-stop CIPA claim in Normal mode on an FX DSLR at maximum telephoto; Off, Normal and Sport settings. Automatic tripod detection permits VR use with a tripod
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	No	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	95 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	108 mm	88.5 mm
Length
Length	267.5 mm	202.5 mm
Weight
Weight	2,090 g	1,430 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom and focus rings, focus-distance window, focus-mode and range-limiter switches, VR controls and zoom lock	Separate zoom and focus rings, four focus-function buttons, focus-distance window, focus mode, range limiter and VR switches. The zoom ring is at the front and focus ring nearer the mount
Zoom design
Zoom design	Barrel extends when zooming; Photography Blog confirms the transport lock operates at 200 mm only	Internal zooming, confirmed by Photography Blog
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch; front does not rotate during focusing according to Photography Blog	77 mm screw-in filters, 0.75 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Both reviews describe a rubber mount gasket but no comprehensive weather sealing; main weather-resistance flag is false	Dust and drip sealing around moving parts; fluorine front coating resists contamination. Not a waterproof rating
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Nikon global specifies approximately 108 mm maximum diameter × 267.5 mm from mount flange, used for main values. The UK table instead lists 107.3 × 266.8 mm; this discrepancy is retained rather than averaged	Approximately 88.5 mm maximum diameter × 202.5 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Nikon global specifies approximately 2,090 g without the collar, used for main weight; 2,300 g with collar is also confirmed by Nikon USA's launch release. The UK table instead lists 2,500 g without explaining its basis	Approximately 1,430 g according to Nikon's CIPA-based figure
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Removable collar allows camera rotation; supplied foot and 90° rotation markings confirmed by Photography Blog	Tripod collar ring with bearings for changing camera orientation
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-71 included	HB-78 bayonet hood included
In the box
In the box	LC-95 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-71 hood and CL-1434 case	LC-77 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-78 hood and CL-M2 semi-soft case
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon USA's August 2015 release states mid-September retail availability; earliest exact global and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained. Photography Blog's 16–35mm image captions are editorial errors within the exact 200–500mm review	Nikon Japan's October announcement gives 11 November 2016 local retail availability. Earliest exact global and UK day unconfirmed, so November precision retained. Photography Blog's occasional f/4G labels and 16–35mm image captions are editorial errors within its exact f/2.8E FL review and are not copied as product specifications