The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 and the Sigma 70-200mm 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 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 197mm. The Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 with a length of 137mm, is 60mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM also has a larger diameter of 86mm compared to the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6's 79mm 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. Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 weighs 1020g, which means it is 410g (28%) lighter than the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM which has a weight of 1430g.
Filter Threads
The Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS 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 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 and the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Pentax KAF3, Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 has a focal range of 80-400mm and
5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
128 - 640mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112 - 320mm.