The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 400mm F2.8L and the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM 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 RF 400mm F2.8L is the longer of the two lenses at 367mm. The Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM with a length of 359mm, is 8mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon RF 400mm F2.8L also has a larger diameter of 168mm compared to the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM's 158mm diameter.
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Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Canon RF 400mm F2.8L and Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
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 RF 400mm F2.8L weighs 2890g, which means it is 5g (0%) lighter than the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM which has a weight of 2895g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 400mm F2.8L has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM has a 41mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 400mm F2.8L:
And these are the 41mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 400mm F2.8L has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM has the Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R100, Canon R8 and Canon R50 for the Canon RF Mount and Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR for the Sony E Mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
400mm and the fastest aperture of
F2.8.