The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 and the Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 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 f5.6-8 is the longer of the two lenses at 165mm. The Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 with a length of 132mm, is 33mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 also has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0's 76mm diameter.
Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 and Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
Comparison image of the Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 and the Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 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 f5.6-8 weighs 654g, which means it is 1g (0%) lighter than the Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 which has a weight of 655g.
Filter Threads
Both the Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 and the Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 have the same Filter thread size of 67mm .
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 has the Micro Four Thirds 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 OM System OM-3 Astro , OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3 for the Micro Four Thirds Mount.
Focal Range
Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 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 Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 has a focal range of 50-200mm and 4.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 100-400mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
