The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 90-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM and the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 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. Canon 90-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM is the longer of the two lenses at 115mm. The Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II with a length of 79mm, is 36mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 90-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM also has a larger diameter of 71mm compared to the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II's 69mm 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 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II weighs 250g, 40% (170g) lighter than the Canon 90-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM's weight of 420g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon 90-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 90-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 90-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM and the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Focal Range
Canon 90-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM has a focal range of 90-300mm and
3.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
144 - 480mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II has a focal range of 80-200mm and 2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 128 - 320mm.