The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM and the Sigma 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG 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 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG is the longer of the two lenses at 726mm. The Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM with a length of 343mm, is 383mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG also has a larger diameter of 237mm compared to the Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM's 163mm 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 EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM weighs 2840g, which means it is 12860g (81%) lighter than the Sigma 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG which has a weight of 15700g.
Filter Threads
The Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Sigma 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM and the Sigma 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG 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 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG is also available in Sigma SA and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 400mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
640mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG has a focal range of 200-500mm and 2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 320 - 800mm.
