Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

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AF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR compared with NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR	NikonNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II
Overview
Released
Released	September 2015	September 2025
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	200–500 mm	24–70 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6	f/2.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/22
Macro lens
Macro lens	–	No
Optical construction
Optical construction	19 elements in 12 groups; internal focusing	14 elements in 10 groups
Special elements
Special elements	Three ED elements	Two ED and three aspherical elements
Coatings
Coatings	Super Integrated Coating	Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat; fluorine-coated front element
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Constant f/5.6 maximum and f/32 minimum; electromagnetic diaphragm for consistent exposure during high-speed bursts	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	11 rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 12°20′–5°00′; DX 8°00′–3°10′	FX 84°–34°20′; DX 61°–22°50′
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon F mount	Nikon Z
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Nikon F mount with full-frame/FX coverage; also usable on DX cameras	Nikon Z mount, FX/full-frame image circle
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	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	2.2 m	0.24 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.22×	0.32×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silent Wave Motor with manual focus override	Multi-focusing system with Silky Swift Voice Coil Motors
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 focus from focal plane 0.24 m at 24/28 mm, 0.27 m at 35 mm, 0.30 m at 50 mm and 0.33 m at 70 mm
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× at 24 mm or 0.32× at 70 mm
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	No in-lens VR according to Photography Blog; stabilisation depends on the attached camera body
Video features
Video features	–	Focus-breathing suppression; internal zoom keeps the centre of gravity steady on gimbals
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	84 mm
Length
Length	267.5 mm	142 mm
Weight
Weight	2,090 g	675 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom and focus rings, focus-distance window, focus-mode and range-limiter switches, VR controls and zoom lock	Click on/off control ring, two assignable L-fn buttons and focus-limit switch that restricts minimum focus to 0.33 m throughout the zoom range
Zoom design
Zoom design	Barrel extends when zooming; Photography Blog confirms the transport lock operates at 200 mm only	Internal zoom maintains the lens length
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch; front does not rotate during focusing according to Photography Blog	–
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-resistant construction; not guaranteed in every situation
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 84 mm maximum diameter by 142 mm from camera mount flange to lens end
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	Maker approximately 675 g
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Removable collar allows camera rotation; supplied foot and 90° rotation markings confirmed by Photography Blog	–
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-71 included	HB-117 with window for rotating filters
In the box
In the box	LC-95 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-71 hood and CL-1434 case	LC-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-117 hood and CL-C2 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	Announced 22 August 2025; Nikon US specified mid-September availability. Main keeps the confirmed month without inventing a UK retail day