The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM and the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 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. Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 111mm. The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM with a length of 88mm, is 23mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM's 81mm 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 DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM weighs 577g, 10% (68g) lighter than the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM's weight of 645g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM 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 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM has the Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount and Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58 for the Sony Alpha Mount.
Focal Range
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a focal range of 17-55mm and
3.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27.2-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM has a focal range of 16-50mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
