The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro and the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A 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 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A is the longer of the two lenses at 131mm. The Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro with a length of 115mm, is 16mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A also has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro's 87mm 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.
Filter Threads
The Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A has a 82mm 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 TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro and the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A 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 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sigma SA, Sony E and Leica L mounts.
Focal Range
Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
80mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 40mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 64mm.