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 100mm f2.8L Macro 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 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM with a length of 123mm, is 48mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A also has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM's 78mm 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 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM weighs 625g, 58% (865g) lighter than the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A's weight of 1490g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro 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 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A has the Sigma SA lens mount whereas the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sigma SD1 Merrill, Sigma SD1 and for the Sigma SA Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A is also available in the Canon EF and Nikon F (DX) 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
75-150mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 160mm.
