The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II and the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM 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 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is the longer of the two lenses at 120mm. The Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM with a length of 111mm, is 9mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II also has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM's 84mm 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. Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM weighs 645g, 7% (50g) lighter than the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II's weight of 695g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has the Canon EF-S 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 Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount.
Focal Range
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II has a focal range of 24-70mm and
2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
36 - 105mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a focal range of 17-55mm and 3.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27.2-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
