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 Tokina 80-400mm 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 Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 with a length of 137mm, is 68mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 also has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6's 79mm 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. Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 weighs 1020g, 26% (375g) 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 Tokina 80-400mm 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 Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 is also available in Canon EF mount.
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 Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 has a focal range of 80-400mm and 5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 120 - 600mm.
