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Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S — Prime/Zoom
Nikon

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

Prime/Zoom

91
/ 100
From $2,699
VS
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM wins by 5
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM — GM Series · Compact · Aperture ring
Sony

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

GM Series · Compact · Aperture ring

96
/ 100
From $1,298
Specdex verdict

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lands at 91 and Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM at 96. That puts Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S if…

  • ✓Fast aperture
  • ✓Quiet autofocus
  • ✓Weather-sealed (most)

Pick Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM if…

  • ✓Best 50mm AF lens for Sony E-mount
  • ✓Compact for f/1.4 GM glass
  • ✓Click-able aperture ring
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sharpness

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Compared on the sharpness sub-score

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM leads on sharpness (98 vs 91).

Autofocus

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Compared on the autofocus sub-score

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM leads on af (98 vs 89).

Build

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Compared on the build sub-score

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM leads on build (96 vs 88).

Value for money

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM more score per dollar ($1,298 vs $2,699).

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S 91
vs
96 Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Score breakdown

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
91
sharpness 91
af 89
build 88
value 85
bokeh 0
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM
96
sharpness 98
af 98
build 96
value 84
bokeh 96

Specs side-by-side

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S versus Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM — full spec comparison
Spec Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM
Mount
—
Sony E
Focal length
—
50 mm
Aperture
—
f/1.4 to f/16
Construction
—
14 elements / 11 groups
Min focus
—
0.41 m
Filter
—
67 mm
Weight
—
516 g

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

Pros
  • +Fast aperture
  • +Quiet autofocus
  • +Weather-sealed (most)
Cons
  • −Mount-specific
  • −Weight varies
  • −Price scales with quality

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Pros
  • +Best 50mm AF lens for Sony E-mount
  • +Compact for f/1.4 GM glass
  • +Click-able aperture ring
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −No image stabilization (relies on IBIS)
  • −No filter included

FAQ: Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S vs Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Which is better, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S or Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM? +

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S worth the price? +

At $2,699, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in sharpness.

Is Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM worth the price? +

At $1,298, Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in sharpness.

Does Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S or Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sharpness, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S or Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM? +

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM — leads on sharpness (98 vs 91). Compared on the sharpness sub-score.

Which is better for autofocus, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S or Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM? +

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM — leads on af (98 vs 89). Compared on the autofocus sub-score.