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 Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO 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 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 215mm. The Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A with a length of 171mm, is 44mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 119mm compared to the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A's 94mm 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 50-100mm F1.8 A weighs 1490g, which means it is 910g (37%) lighter than the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM which has a weight of 2400g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM has a 46mm 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 46mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A and the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO 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 SD1 Merrill, Sigma SD1 and .
Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 A is also available in the Canon EF and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Pentax KAF and Sony Alpha 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 Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm.
