The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G and the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS 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 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 203mm. The Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G with a length of 125mm, is 78mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G's 72mm 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. Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G weighs 400g, which means it is 1240g (75%) lighter than the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM which has a weight of 1640g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM 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 Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is also available in Canon EF and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G has a focal range of 70-300mm and
4.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
105-450mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM has a focal range of 120-400mm and 3.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 180 - 600mm.
