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 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II 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 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II with a length of 196mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II has a larger diameter of 95mm compared to the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II's 87mm 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.
Filter Threads
Both the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II and the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II and the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II 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 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II has a focal range of 70-400mm and 5.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 600mm.