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

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

	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR	NikonNIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II
Overview
Released
Released	September 2018	March 2026
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	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 11 groups	18 elements in 16 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Three ED glass elements and one Phase Fresnel element	One ED, one Super ED, two aspherical, one aspherical ED, one fluorite and one SR element
Coatings
Coatings	Nano Crystal Coat and fluorine coating on the front lens surface	Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat; front-element fluorine coating
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Electromagnetic E-type automatic diaphragm	f/2.8–22 throughout zoom range
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	11 blades with rounded aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 5°; DX 3°10′	FX 34°20′–12°20′; DX 22°50′–8°
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon F mount	Nikon Z 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	Native Nikon Z mount; full-frame FX image circle, also usable on DX cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Nikon confirms compatibility with the AF-S TELECONVERTER TC-14E III	Compatible with Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4× and TC-2.0×
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	3 m	0.38 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.18×	0.3×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Nikon internal focusing with an ultrasonic motor; manual focus possible	Silky Swift VCM multi-focusing drive
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum 3 m from the focal plane; focus limiter selects the full range or infinity–8 m	Distances from focal plane; 0.38 m at 70/85 mm, 0.5 m at 105 mm, 0.6 m at 135 mm and 0.8 m at 200 mm
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	–	Maximum 0.3× at 70 mm or 0.25× at 200 mm; no separate AF/MF distinction published
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	Maker six-stop claim under CIPA2024 yaw/pitch/roll testing with Z6III, Synchro VR enabled, at telephoto end in Normal mode; support depends on camera
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	95 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	106 mm	90 mm
Length
Length	237 mm	208 mm
Weight
Weight	1,460 g	998 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Focus ring, focus-mode switch, focus limiter and VR switch; Photography Blog identifies focus-function buttons and memory recall	AF/manual switch, programmable function controls and focus limiter FULL (infinity–0.38 m) or LIMIT (infinity–5 m); control-ring clicking requires compatible camera/firmware
Zoom design
Zoom design	–	Internal zoom maintains barrel length and balance
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters; 1.0 mm thread pitch	–
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	Dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed in every situation
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 106 mm maximum diameter × 237 mm length from the lens mount flange	Approximately 90 mm maximum diameter × 208 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1,460 g	Approximately 998 g without tripod collar ring or 1180 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Rotating tripod collar; Photography Blog describes the locking knob for switching between horizontal and vertical orientation	Removable collar with Arca-Swiss screw-clamp foot; maker advises against lever clamps. Protective collar cover included.
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-84 bayonet hood included	HB-119 with filter-adjustment window
In the box
In the box	LC-95 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-84 hood and CL-M5 lens case	LC-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-119 hood and CL-C3 lens case; removable tripod collar and protective cover
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon USA announced availability on 13 September 2018; Nikon Japan records sale on 14 September 2018	US maker states late March 2026; exact earliest retail day or first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained