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 Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG 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 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 544mm. The Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM with a length of 215mm, is 329mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 157mm compared to the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM's 119mm 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 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM weighs 2400g, which means it is 3480g (59%) lighter than the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM which has a weight of 5880g.
Filter Threads
Both the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM and the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM have the same Filter thread size of 46mm.
Below are links to the 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM and the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM has the same Sigma SA lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sigma SA lenses are Sigma Quattro, Sigma Quattro H and Sigma SD1 Merrill.
Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is also available in the Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Pentax KAF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM is also available in Canon EF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM has a focal range of 300-800mm and 2.7X zoom ratio .
