Sony
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
 vs
Nikon Nikkor
AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Better telephoto 400 mm vs 300 mm
Help
 More than 30% more reach, less perspective distortion
Wider aperture f/4 vs f/4.5
Help
 At its widest, the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM captures marginally more light, 0.3 f-stops
Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Learn more about
the Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

Reasons to consider the Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
Image stabilization Nikon VR vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Shorter 123 mm vs 196 mm
Help
 Around 40% shorter
Lighter 0.6 kg vs 1.6 kg
Help
 2.7x lighter
Cheaper $396.95 vs $1,998.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,601 cheaper (5x less)
Slightly better wide angle 55 mm vs 70 mm
Help
 More than 20% better wide angle
Slightly smaller diameter 77 mm vs 94 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller lens at the end
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Learn more about
the Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus motor Silent focus motor Help
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:Sony SSM
AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:Nikon AF-S
Max focal length Good telephoto Help
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:400 mm
AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:300 mm
Zoom range Great zoom Help
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:5.7x
AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:5.5x
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:f/4
AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:f/4.5
Fixed aperture Both are variable aperture lenses Help
Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Min focal length Good wide-angle Help
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:70 mm
AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:55 mm

LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Wildlife lens

$1,499
Wide maximum Has a higher max f/stop
Focus motor Lacks a silent focus motor
Length Is longer
Compare the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Compare the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

Travel lens

$847
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Zoom range Has much large zoom range
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f

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

Wildlife lens

$1,019
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Min focal length Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Wildlife lens

$1,499
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Zoom range Less zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$1,509
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Zoom range Significantly more zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Tokina AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f

Tokina AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$499
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Length Shorter
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

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

Wildlife lens

$998
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Length Shorter
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha

Wildlife lens

$449
Weight Lighter
Lowest price Cheaper
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

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

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

Nikon Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

Wildlife lens

$150
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Aperture Wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

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

Wildlife lens

$247
Aperture Wider aperture
Length Slightly shorter
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
Nikon Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED

Nikon Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED

Wildlife lens

$587
Zoom range Less zoom
Min focal length Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
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
Aperture Wider aperture
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 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
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
Aperture Wider aperture
Length Shorter
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Magnification Less magnification
Compare the Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

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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