AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VRvs A7C II
Nikon
AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR (2012)
Starting from £849 new
Best for Wildlife, sports & portrait telephoto
View AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Sports & Portrait Telephoto — AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR (2012): The sensible telephoto choice for Nikon DSLR shooters — weather-sealed, VR-equipped, and optically superb at a fraction of the f/2.8 price.
Full-Frame Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
Who should buy what
A7C II (2023)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact body
- Hybrid shooters who need full-frame video and IBIS in a small package
- A7C owners looking for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Portrait and wedding photographers who want a discreet full-frame backup
Quick take: The af-s nikkor 70-200mm f/4g ed vr is the most affordable; only the af-s nikkor 70-200mm f/4g ed vr is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR (2012) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £849 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | f/4 (constant max aperture) | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 33.0MP |
| Video | 100cm minimum focus distance | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | Silent Wave Motor (SWM) — fast and quiet with full-time manual override | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 4-stop VR (Vibration Reduction) | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | N/A | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 850g | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 78mm diameter × 178.5mm length | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | N/A | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (FX / DX) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR | A7C II |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
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