Nikon
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Prime/Zoom
91
/ 100
From $2,699
VS
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II wins by 3
Sony
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II
Prime/Zoom
94
/ 100
From $1,798
Specdex verdict
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
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S 91
vs 94 Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II
Score breakdown
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
91 sharpness 91
af 89
build 88
value 85
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II
94 sharpness 94
af 93
build 94
value 84
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
Pros
- +Fast aperture
- +Quiet autofocus
- +Weather-sealed (most)
Cons
- −Mount-specific
- −Weight varies
- −Price scales with quality
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II
Pros
- +Fast autofocus
- +Weather-sealed
- +Premium optics
Cons
- −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.