Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II vs Sony 500mm F4 G SSM
Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.
Sony
300mm F2.8 G SSM II
Sony
500mm F4 G SSM
Verdict at a glance
- Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II is faster by 1 stop (f/2.8 vs f/4.0), letting in more light.
- Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II is lighter by 1120g.
- Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II goes wider (300mm vs 500mm).
- Sony 500mm F4 G SSM reaches further (500mm vs 300mm).
| Spec | 300mm F2.8 G SSM II | 500mm F4 G SSM |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sony | Sony |
| Mount | Sony A | Sony A |
| Type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 300mm (wider) | 500mm |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 (faster) | f/4.0 |
| Released | 2012 | 2012 |
| Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Groups | 12 | 10 |
| Af motor | SSM | SSM |
| Elements | 13 | 11 |
| Weight g | 2340 (lighter) | 3460 |
| Length mm | 242.5 | 367.5 |
| Min focus m | 2.0 (closer focusing) | 4.0 |
| Weather sealed | Yes | n/a |
| Max magnification | 0.18 | 0.135 |
Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II
A 300mm f/2.8 telephoto for A-mount, built for sports and wildlife with SSM focusing and a dust and moisture resistant barrel. It weighs about 2,340 g.
Pros
- f/2.8 maximum aperture
- SSM autofocus
- Dust and moisture resistant
- Quick, quiet focus
Cons
- Very heavy at about 2,340 g
- Large and tiring to carry
- No in-lens stabilization
Sony 500mm F4 G SSM
A 500mm f/4 super-telephoto for A-mount with SSM autofocus. It weighs about 3,460 g, with a minimum focus distance of 4.0 m.
Pros
- f/4 aperture at 500mm
- SSM autofocus
- Full-frame coverage
- Quiet focusing
Cons
- Very heavy at about 3,460 g
- Minimum focus distance of 4.0 m
- Large and awkward to transport