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 Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM 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 Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM with a length of 136mm, is 29mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8's 78mm 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 FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 weighs 654g, which means it is 106g (13%) lighter than the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM which has a weight of 760g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM has a 62mm 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 FE 100-400mm f5.6-8:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-8 has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM has the Sony Alpha 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 Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha 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 Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM 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.
