The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon EF 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II USM and the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 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. Canon EF 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II USM is the longer of the two lenses at 146mm. The Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 with a length of 137mm, is 9mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon EF 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II USM also has a larger diameter of 80mm compared to the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6's 79mm 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. Canon EF 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II USM weighs 710g, which means it is 310g (30%) lighter than the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 which has a weight of 1020g.
Filter Threads
The Canon EF 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II USM has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon EF 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II USM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon EF 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II USM and the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K.
Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Focal Range
Canon EF 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II USM has a focal range of 70-300mm and
4.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
112 - 480mm.
On the other hand, the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 has a focal range of 80-400mm and 5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 128 - 640mm.
