Sony
500mm f/8
 vs
Nikon Nikkor
AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sony 500mm f/8
Much better telephoto 500 mm vs 200 mm
Help
 2.5x more reach, less perspective distortion
Is a prime lens Yes vs No
Help
 Prime lenses have a single focal length, they are typically sharper and have wider apertures
Sony 500mm f/8 Learn more about
the Sony 500mm f/8

Reasons to consider the Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
Much better wide angle 55 mm vs 500 mm
Help
 9.1x better wide angle
Much wider aperture f/4 vs f/8
Help
 At its widest, the AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED captures much more light, 2 f-stops
Image stabilization Nikon VR vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Has a silent focus motor Nikon AF-S vs None
Help
 Focuses quickly and silently
More zoom 3.6x vs 1x
Help
 More than 3.5x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
More magnification 1:4 (0.2x) vs 1:7.7 (0.1x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects more than 90% larger in your photo
Slightly lighter 335 g vs 0.7 kg
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Slightly cheaper $224.15 vs $749.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $526 cheaper (3.3x less)
Slightly shorter 100 mm vs 118 mm
Help
 Around 20% shorter
Slightly smaller diameter 73 mm vs 89 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller lens at the end
Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED Learn more about
the Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
500mm f/8:f/8
AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED:f/4

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Length Short Help
500mm f/8:118 mm
AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED:100 mm
Weight Light weight Help
500mm f/8:0.7 kg
AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED:335 g
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
500mm f/8:$749.99
AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED:$224.15
Zoom range Poor zoom Help
500mm f/8:1x
AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED:3.6x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f

Travel lens

$369
Zoom range Has way more large zoom range
Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the 500mm f/8
Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

Sony 500mm f/8 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

Wildlife lens

$998
Min focal length Much better wide angle
Aperture Much wider aperture
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Compare the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM vs the 500mm f/8
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha

Wide angle lens

$199
Aperture Much wider aperture
Min focal length Much better wide angle
Max focal length Much worse telephoto
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Compare the 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha vs the 500mm f/8
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Sony-alpha

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Sony-alpha

Wildlife lens

$999
Min focal length Much better wide angle
Aperture Much wider aperture
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Length Significantly longer
Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Sony-alpha vs the 500mm f/8
Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Canon-ef

Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$949
Aperture Much wider aperture
Min focal length Much better wide angle
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Length Longer
Compare the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Canon-ef vs the 500mm f/8
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Sports lens

$5,799
Aperture Much wider aperture
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Lowest price Much more expensive
Weight Significantly heavier
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II vs the 500mm f/8

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Wildlife lens

$397
Max focal length Better telephoto
Zoom range More zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Length Slightly longer
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR vs the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Wildlife lens

$299
Max focal length Better telephoto
Zoom range More zoom
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

Wide angle lens

$109 - $197
Aperture Wider aperture
Min focal length Better wide angle
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Zoom range Slightly less zoom
Compare the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX vs the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f

Macro lens

$199
Magnification More magnification
Max focal length Better telephoto
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
Nikon Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Travel lens

$330
Zoom range More zoom
Aperture Wider aperture
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Magnification Slightly less magnification
Compare the Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX vs the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

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