The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II and the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II is the longer of the two lenses at 197mm. The Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM with a length of 136mm, is 61mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM's 83mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM weighs 760g, 49% (740g) lighter than the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II's weight of 1500g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II and the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Focal Range
Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II has a focal range of 70-200mm and
2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
105 - 300mm.
On the other hand, the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM has a focal range of 70-300mm and 4.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 450mm.