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Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR vs Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports

The Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR and the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports if you want a brighter f/4 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds and a fit on more cameras (39 against 17 in this guide). On these specs the Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR and the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR	Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports
Maker	Nikon	Sigma
Focal length	500mm (prime)	500mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent	500mm	500mm
Maximum aperture	f/5.6	f/4brighter
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	Nikon F	Canon EF, Nikon F
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Weight	1460 g	not listed
Cameras it fits	17 in this guide	39 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR: 500mm.

Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports: 500mm.

Aperture

Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR: f/5.6 wide open.

Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports: f/4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

17 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR fits 17 and the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports 39.