The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A and the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM 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 50-100mm F1.8 A is the longer of the two lenses at 171mm. The Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM with a length of 68mm, is 103mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A also has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM's 85mm 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 F1.4 EX DG HSM weighs 505g, 66% (985g) lighter than the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A's weight of 1490g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A and the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM has the same Sigma SA lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sigma SA lenses are Sigma SD1 Merrill, Sigma SD1 and .
Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A is also available in Canon EF and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF3, Sony Alpha, Nikon F (FX) and Four Thirds mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A has a focal range of 50-100mm and
2.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
75-150mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm.