The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS and the Olympus 300mm f2.8 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. Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS is the longer of the two lenses at 314mm. The Olympus 300mm f2.8 with a length of 281mm, is 33mm shorter. On the other hand, the Olympus 300mm f2.8 has a larger diameter of 129mm compared to the Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS's 116mm 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. Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS weighs 1850g, which means it is 1440g (43%) lighter than the Olympus 300mm f2.8 which has a weight of 3290g.
Filter Threads
The Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Olympus 300mm f2.8 has a 43mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 95mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS:
And these are the 43mm filters that we recommend for the Olympus 300mm f2.8:
Lens Mounts
The Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS has the Micro Four Thirds lens mount whereas the Olympus 300mm f2.8 has the Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are OM System OM-1 II, Panasonic G9 II and OM System OM-5 for the Micro Four Thirds Mount and Olympus E-5, Olympus E-600 and Olympus E-620 for the Four Thirds Mount.
Focal Range
Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS has a focal range of 150-400mm and
2.7X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
300-800mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Olympus 300mm f2.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 600mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.