The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM and the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR 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 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 215mm. The Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II with a length of 209mm, is 6mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 119mm compared to the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II'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. Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II weighs 1540g, 35% (860g) lighter than the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM's weight of 2400g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR 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 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM and the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is also available in the Canon EF , Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
450mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR 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.
