The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R and the Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS 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. Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R is the longer of the two lenses at 133mm. The Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS with a length of 111mm, is 22mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R also has a larger diameter of 75mm compared to the Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS'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. Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS weighs 375g, 35% (205g) lighter than the Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R's weight of 580g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Fujifilm X Mount for size comparison purposes.
Super Telephoto Lenses in Fujifilm X Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS has a 58mm 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 Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R and the Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS has the same Fujifilm X lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Fujifilm X lenses are Fujifilm X-S20, Fujifilm X-T5 and Fujifilm X-H2.
Focal Range
Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R has a focal range of 70-300mm and
4.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
105-450mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS has a focal range of 50-230mm and 4.6X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 75-345mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.