Sony
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
 vs
Sony
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Better telephoto 400 mm vs 300 mm
Help
 More than 30% more reach, less perspective distortion
Wider aperture f/4 vs f/4.5
Help
 At its widest, the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM captures marginally more light, 0.3 f-stops
More zoom 5.7x vs 4.3x
Help
 More than 30% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Learn more about
the Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

Reasons to consider the Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM
Significantly narrower aperture f/32 vs f/22
Help
 At its narrowest, the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM goes 1.1 f-stops narrower
Shorter 137 mm vs 196 mm
Help
 More than 30% shorter
Lighter 0.8 kg vs 1.6 kg
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Cheaper $998.00 vs $1,998.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,000 cheaper (2x less)
Slightly smaller diameter 81 mm vs 94 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller lens at the end
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM Learn more about
the Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus motor Silent focus motor Help
Silent and fast
Max focal length Good telephoto Help
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:400 mm
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM:300 mm
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:f/4
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM:f/4.5
Fixed aperture Both are variable aperture lenses Help
Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Min focal length Good wide-angle Help
70 mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha

Wildlife lens

$449
Focus motor Lacks a silent focus motor
Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha vs the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM
Sony D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6

Sony D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6

Wildlife lens

$248
Focus motor Lacks a silent focus motor
Compare the D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Compare the D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 vs the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM

Sports lens

$1,998
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Length Is longer
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM vs the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Sony-alpha

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Sony-alpha

Sports lens

$1,249
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Sony-alpha vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Sony-alpha vs the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Wildlife lens

$1,499
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Zoom range Less zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Wildlife lens

$1,499
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$1,509
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Zoom range Significantly more zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Tokina AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f

Tokina AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$499
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Length Shorter
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM

Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM

Sports lens

$749
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Aperture Wider aperture
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT

Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT

Wide angle lens

$998
Aperture Wider aperture
Length Shorter
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Compare the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT vs the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM
Sony 500mm f/4 G

Sony 500mm f/4 G

Wildlife lens

$12,998
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Max focal length Significantly better telephoto
Lowest price Much more expensive
Min focal length Much worse wide angle
Compare the 500mm f/4 G vs the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM
Sony 500mm f/8

Sony 500mm f/8

Wildlife lens

$750
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Max focal length Significantly better telephoto
Min focal length Much worse wide angle
Aperture Much narrower aperture
Compare the 500mm f/8 vs the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

Wide angle lens

$798
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Compare the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT vs the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

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