The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR and the Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A 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. Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A is the longer of the two lenses at 130mm. The Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR with a length of 63mm, is 67mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A also has a larger diameter of 91mm compared to the Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR's 65mm 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. Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR weighs 205g, which means it is 745g (78%) lighter than the Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A which has a weight of 950g.
Lens Mounts
The Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR is also available in Nikon F (DX) mount.
Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A is also available in Canon EF , Sigma SA and Leica L mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR has a focal range of 18-55mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 20mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 30mm.