The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II and the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS 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 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS is the longer of the two lenses at 197mm. The Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II with a length of 196mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II has a larger diameter of 95mm compared to the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS's 86mm 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 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS weighs 1135g, 24% (365g) lighter than the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II's weight of 1500g.
Filter Threads
The Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS 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 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS:
Lens Mounts
The Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II has the Sony Alpha lens mount whereas the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS has the Leica L lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount and Leica SL3-P, Panasonic S1 II and Panasonic S1 IIE for the Leica L Mount.
Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS is also available in Sony E and Fujifilm X mounts.
Focal Range
Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II has a focal range of 70-400mm and
5.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
105 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 OS has a focal range of 100-400mm and 4.0X zoom ratio .
