The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC and the Sigma APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS 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 APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 204mm. The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC with a length of 186mm, is 18mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM also has a larger diameter of 95mm compared to the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC's 89mm 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. Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC weighs 1180g, which means it is 460g (28%) lighter than the Sigma APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM which has a weight of 1640g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Sigma APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM has a 86mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC:
And these are the 86mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM:
Lens Mounts
The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Sigma APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC is also available in the Sony E mount.
Sigma APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is also available in Canon EF , Sigma SA and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has a focal range of 50-400mm and
8.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma APO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 180mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 270mm.
