The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM and the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 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 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 203mm. The Sony DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM with a length of 117mm, is 86mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Sony DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM'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. Sony DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM weighs 460g, which means it is 1180g (71%) lighter than the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM which has a weight of 1640g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Super Telephoto Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM has a 77mm 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 DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM and the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58.
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM is also available in Pentax KAF3 mount.
Focal Range
Sony DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM has a focal range of 55-300mm and
5.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
82.5-450mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM has a focal range of 120-400mm and 3.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 180 - 600mm.
