Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Prime/Zoom
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II
Prime/Zoom
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II 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 85mm f/1.4 GM II at 94. That puts Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II ahead by 3 points — a narrow 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 85mm f/1.4 GM II if…
- ✓Fast autofocus
- ✓Weather-sealed
- ✓Premium optics
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSharpness
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM IICompared on the sharpness sub-score
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II leads on sharpness (94 vs 91).
Autofocus
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM IICompared on the autofocus sub-score
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II leads on af (93 vs 89).
Build
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM IICompared on the build sub-score
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II leads on build (94 vs 88).
Value for money
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM IISpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II more score per dollar ($1,798 vs $2,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S | Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II |
|---|
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
- +Fast aperture
- +Quiet autofocus
- +Weather-sealed (most)
- −Mount-specific
- −Weight varies
- −Price scales with quality
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II
- +Fast autofocus
- +Weather-sealed
- +Premium optics
- −Heavy
- −Expensive
- −Focus breathing varies
FAQ: Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S vs Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II
Which is better, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S or Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II? +
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. 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 85mm f/1.4 GM II worth the price? +
At $1,798, Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in sharpness.
Does Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S or Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II 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 85mm f/1.4 GM II? +
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II — leads on sharpness (94 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 85mm f/1.4 GM II? +
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II — leads on af (93 vs 89). Compared on the autofocus sub-score.