The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED and the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro 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. Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED is the longer of the two lenses at 112mm. The Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro with a length of 67mm, is 45mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro's 71mm 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. Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro weighs 320g, 58% (460g) lighter than the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED's weight of 780g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro has a 55mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED:
And these are the 55mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED and the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 45mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
67.5mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 75mm.