The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 and the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L 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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 is the longer of the two lenses at 144mm. The Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM with a length of 143mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6'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. Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 weighs 854g, which means it is 196g (18%) lighter than the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM which has a weight of 1050g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM has a 67mm 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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM has the Canon EF 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 Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
70-300mm but while Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 has the fastest aperture of
F4.5 - F5.6, the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM's widest aperture value is
F4.0 - F5.6.
