The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM and the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC 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 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 89mm. The Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM with a length of 59mm, is 30mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM also has a larger diameter of 79mm compared to the Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM'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. Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM weighs 430g, which means it is 90g (17%) lighter than the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM which has a weight of 520g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM has a 72mm 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 Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM and the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM has the same Sigma SA lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sigma SA lenses are Sigma SD1 Merrill, Sigma SD1 and .
Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM is also available in the Canon EF-S , Nikon F (DX), Four Thirds, Pentax KAF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF3, Sony Alpha and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 30mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
45mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC OS HSM has a focal range of 17-70mm and 4.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 25.5-105mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
