The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM and the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG 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. Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM is the longer of the two lenses at 136mm. The Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG with a length of 122mm, is 14mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG'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 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG weighs 550g, 27% (210g) lighter than the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM's weight of 760g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG has a 58mm 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 Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM and the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Pentax KAF, Sigma SA, Canon EF, Nikon F (FX), Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
70-300mm but while Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM has the fastest aperture of
F4.5 - F5.6, the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG's widest aperture value is
F4.0 - F5.6.