The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM and the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS 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 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM is the longer of the two lenses at 196mm. The Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II with a length of 149mm, is 47mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM also has a larger diameter of 95mm compared to the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II's 82mm 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 FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II weighs 794g, 46% (696g) lighter than the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM's weight of 1490g.
Filter Threads
The Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II:
Lens Mounts
The Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM has the Sony Alpha lens mount whereas the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II has the Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount and Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount.
Focal Range
Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM has a focal range of 70-400mm and
5.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
105 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 300mm.
