The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 and the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 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 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 is the longer of the two lenses at 205mm. The Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 with a length of 144mm, is 61mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 also has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6's 84mm diameter.
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Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 and Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 weighs 854g, 38% (541g) lighter than the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6's weight of 1395g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 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 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 and the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 has the same Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR.
Focal Range
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 has a focal range of 100-400mm and
4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
150 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 has a focal range of 70-300mm and 4.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 450mm.