The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G and the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM 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 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 111mm. The Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G with a length of 100mm, is 11mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G's 73mm 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 E 16-55mm F2.8 G weighs 494g, which means it is 151g (23%) lighter than the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM which has a weight of 645g.
Filter Threads
The Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a 77mm 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 Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has the Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony ZV-E10 II, Sony A6700 and Sony FX30 for the Sony E Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount.
Focal Range
Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G has a focal range of 16-55mm and
3.4X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a focal range of 17-55mm and 3.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27.2-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.