The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS and the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM 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 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 184mm. The Canon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS with a length of 102mm, is 82mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Canon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS'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 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS weighs 595g, which means it is 1075g (64%) lighter than the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM which has a weight of 1670g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM has the Canon EF 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 Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Canon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS has a focal range of 18-200mm and
11.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
28.8-320mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM has a focal range of 28-300mm and 10.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 44.8 - 480mm.