The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 500mm F4 G SSM and the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II 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. Sony 500mm F4 G SSM is the longer of the two lenses at 368mm. The Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II with a length of 243mm, is 125mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 500mm F4 G SSM also has a larger diameter of 140mm compared to the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II's 122mm 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 300mm F2.8 G SSM II weighs 2300g, 33% (1160g) lighter than the Sony 500mm F4 G SSM's weight of 3460g.
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 500mm F4 G SSM and the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Focal Range
Sony 500mm F4 G SSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 500mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
750mm.
On the other hand, the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 450mm.
