The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 200-800mm and the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 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 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 544mm. The Canon RF 200-800mm with a length of 314mm, is 230mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 157mm compared to the Canon RF 200-800mm's 102mm 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 RF 200-800mm weighs 2050g, which means it is 3830g (65%) lighter than the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM which has a weight of 5880g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 200-800mm has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 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 95mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 200-800mm:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 200-800mm has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM is also available in Sigma SA and Canon EF mounts.
Focal Range
Canon RF 200-800mm has a focal range of 200-800mm 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
320 - 1280mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM has a focal range of 300-800mm and 2.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 450 - 1200mm.
