The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro and the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro 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. LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 134mm. The Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro with a length of 106mm, is 28mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro has a larger diameter of 71mm compared to the LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro's 68mm 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 70mm F2.8 DG Macro weighs 515g, 1% (6g) lighter than the LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro's weight of 521g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Macro Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for size comparison purposes.
Macro Lenses in Sony E Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro has a 49mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro and the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro has the same Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V.
LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro is also available in the Nikon Z , Canon RF and Leica L mounts.
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
LAOWA 180mm f4.5 Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 180mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
270mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 70mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105mm.
