The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G 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 70-200mm F4 G is the longer of the two lenses at 175mm. The Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM with a length of 136mm, is 39mm 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 70-200mm F4 G's 80mm 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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM weighs 760g, 9% (80g) lighter than the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G's weight of 840g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G has a filter size of 72mm 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 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G:
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 70-200mm F4 G 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 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 70-200mm F4 G has a focal range of 70-200mm 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
105 - 300mm.
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.