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 and the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM 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 400mm F2.8 GM is the longer of the two lenses at 359mm. The Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5 with a length of 328mm, is 31mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM also has a larger diameter of 158mm compared to the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5's 120mm diameter.
Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5 and Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
Comparison image of the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5 and the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM Size and Weight 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 100-400mm F4.5 weighs 1840g, which means it is 1055g (36%) lighter than the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM which has a weight of 2895g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5 has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM has a 41mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 95mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5:
And these are the 41mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5 and the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM has the same Sony E lens mount . Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony FX5 , Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V .
Focal Range
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5 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 400mm F2.8 GM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 400mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 600mm .
