The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC 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 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 121mm. The Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II with a length of 114mm, is 7mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM's 78mm diameter.
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Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
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 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM weighs 810g, 7% (62g) lighter than the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II's weight of 872g.
Filter Threads
The Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM has a 72mm 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 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM 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 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF, Sigma SA and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Focal Range
Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II has a focal range of 16-35mm and
2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
24 - 52.5mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM has a focal range of 18-35mm and 1.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27-52.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.