The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR and the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II 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 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II is the longer of the two lenses at 184mm. The PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR with a length of 89mm, is 95mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR's 77mm 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. PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR weighs 471g, which means it is 919g (66%) lighter than the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II which has a weight of 1390g.
Filter Threads
The PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II:
Lens Mounts
Both the PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR and the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II has the same Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF3 lenses are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II is also available in Canon EF , Four Thirds, Sony Alpha, Sigma SA and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
PENTAX 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED WR has a focal range of 55-300mm and
5.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
82.5-450mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 300mm.
