The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 24-70mm F4 OSS and the Sony 500mm F8 Reflex 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 500mm F8 Reflex is the longer of the two lenses at 118mm. The Sony FE 24-70mm F4 OSS with a length of 95mm, is 23mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 500mm F8 Reflex also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Sony FE 24-70mm F4 OSS's 73mm 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 24-70mm F4 OSS weighs 426g, which means it is 239g (35%) lighter than the Sony 500mm F8 Reflex which has a weight of 665g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 24-70mm F4 OSS has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Sony 500mm F8 Reflex has a 55mm 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 24-70mm F4 OSS:
And these are the 55mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 500mm F8 Reflex:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 24-70mm F4 OSS has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Sony 500mm F8 Reflex has the Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR for the Sony E Mount and Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount.
Focal Range
Sony FE 24-70mm F4 OSS 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 Sony 500mm F8 Reflex is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 500mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 750mm.