The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM and the Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC 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. Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 113mm. The Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM with a length of 106mm, is 7mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM's 75mm 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 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM weighs 555g, 9% (60g) lighter than the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM's weight of 615g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM and the Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM is also available in Pentax KAF3 , Sony Alpha, Sigma SA and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM has a focal range of 16-35mm and
2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
25.6 - 56mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM has a focal range of 8-16mm and 2.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 12.8-25.6mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.