Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR vs Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR

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AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR compared with AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR

	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR
Overview
Released
Released	September 2018	April 2013
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	500 mm	800 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6	f/5.6
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/32
Optical construction
Optical construction	19 elements in 11 groups	20 elements in 13 groups plus protective glass; supplied converter has five elements in three groups
Special elements
Special elements	Three ED glass elements and one Phase Fresnel element	Two ED and two fluorite elements in the lens; one ED element in the converter
Coatings
Coatings	Nano Crystal Coat and fluorine coating on the front lens surface	Nano Crystal Coat; no fluorine coating claimed in the maker specification tables used here
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Electromagnetic E-type automatic diaphragm	f/5.6–32 without the converter; f/7.1–40 with the supplied TC800-1.25E ED
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Nine rounded blades; electromagnetic aperture control
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 5°; DX 3°10′	FX 3°10′; DX 2° without converter
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 FX coverage, also usable on DX; Nikon warns that some cameras impose E-type lens restrictions. Nikon USA confirms Z6 and Z7 use with the FTZ mount adapter	CPU-equipped E-type Nikon F lens; electromagnetic aperture control requires compatible camera operation
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Nikon confirms compatibility with the AF-S TELECONVERTER TC-14E III	Supplied matched TC800-1.25E ED is exclusive to this lens and gives 1000 mm f/7.1; original US announcement names D4, D800 series and D600 for full autofocus with it
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	3 m	5.9 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.18×	0.15×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Nikon internal focusing with an ultrasonic motor; manual focus possible	Internal focusing with ultrasonic motor; autofocus and manual focus
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum 3 m from the focal plane; focus limiter selects the full range or infinity–8 m	Maker main minimum distance 5.9 m; Japan converter table gives 5.9 m in autofocus and 5.8 m in manual focus with the matched converter. Focus limiter selects FULL or infinity–10 m
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	–	Nikon Japan publishes 0.15× without converter in AF and MF, used in the main specifications; UK gives 1/6.7. Japan lists converter ratios of 1/5.3 in AF and 1/5.1 in MF
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Four stops under CIPA testing in Normal mode on a full-frame/FX DSLR; Normal and Sport modes, with tripod vibration reduction supported	Lens-shift VR rated 4.5 stops under CIPA conditions in NORMAL mode on an FX DSLR; NORMAL and ACTIVE modes, with tripod vibration reduction supported
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	–
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	95 mm	52 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	106 mm	160 mm
Length
Length	237 mm	461 mm
Weight
Weight	1,460 g (better)	4,590 g
Controls
Controls	Focus ring, focus-mode switch, focus limiter and VR switch; Photography Blog identifies focus-function buttons and memory recall	–
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters; 1.0 mm thread pitch	52 mm drop-in holder system; pitch 0.75 mm
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Nikon specifies dust- and drip-resistant construction with seals at moving barrel parts and other locations; fluorine coating helps repel dirt and water on the front lens surface	–
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 106 mm maximum diameter × 237 mm length from the lens mount flange	Approximately 160 mm maximum diameter × 461 mm from the mount flange; matched converter approximately 62.5 mm diameter × 16 mm between bayonet reference planes, 29 mm overall
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1,460 g	Approximately 4,590 g lens; supplied matched converter approximately 135 g
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Rotating tripod collar; Photography Blog describes the locking knob for switching between horizontal and vertical orientation	–
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-84 bayonet hood included	–
In the box
In the box	LC-95 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-84 hood and CL-M5 lens case	–
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon USA announced availability on 13 September 2018; Nikon Japan records sale on 14 September 2018	Original Nikon US announcement specifies April 2013 retail availability; January introduction is not used as the first-sale date