The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM and the Sigma 500mm F4.5 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 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 350mm. The Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM with a length of 193mm, is 157mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 123mm compared to the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM's 94mm 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. Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM weighs 1590g, which means it is 1560g (49%) lighter than the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM which has a weight of 3150g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM has a 46mm 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 Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM and the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K.
Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Pentax KAF and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM has a focal range of 100-400mm and
4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
160 - 640mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 500mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 800mm.
