The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A and the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM 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 50-100mm F1.8 A is the longer of the two lenses at 171mm. The Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM with a length of 143mm, is 28mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A also has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM's 89mm 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. Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM weighs 1050g, 29% (440g) lighter than the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A's weight of 1490g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A and the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3.
Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A is also available in the Nikon F (DX) and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A has a focal range of 50-100mm and
2.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
80-160mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM has a focal range of 70-300mm and 4.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112 - 480mm.
