The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro and the Canon 180mm f3.5L Macro 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. Canon 180mm f3.5L Macro USM is the longer of the two lenses at 187mm. The Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro with a length of 95mm, is 92mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 180mm f3.5L Macro USM also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro's 76mm 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 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro weighs 527g, which means it is 563g (51%) lighter than the Canon 180mm f3.5L Macro USM which has a weight of 1090g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Macro Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Macro Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro and the Canon 180mm f3.5L Macro USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K.
Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro is also available in the Nikon F (FX) , Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 70mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
112mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 180mm f3.5L Macro USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 180mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 288mm.