Sigma
120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
 vs
Canon
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Has a consant aperture Yes vs No
Help
 Constant aperture lenses offer the same aperture at all focal lengths
Significantly wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/4.5
Help
 At its widest, the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef captures slightly more light, 1.4 f-stops
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef Learn more about
the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef

Reasons to consider the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Significantly lighter 1.4 kg vs 2.9 kg
Help
 2.1x lighter
Better image stabilization Canon IS vs Sigma OS
Help
 Less risk of blur
Better telephoto 400 mm vs 300 mm
Help
 More than 30% more reach, less perspective distortion
More zoom 4x vs 2.5x
Help
 60% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Cheaper $1,499.00 vs $2,499.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,000 cheaper (more than 40% less)
More magnification 1:5 (0.2x) vs 1:8.3 (0.1x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects around 70% larger in your photo
Slightly better wide angle 100 mm vs 120 mm
Help
 Around 20% better wide angle
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Learn more about
the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus motor Silent focus motor Help
120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef:Sigma HSM
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM:Canon USM
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef:Sigma OS
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM:Canon IS
Max focal length Good telephoto Help
120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef:300 mm
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM:400 mm
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Sports lens

$1,899
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef

Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$899
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Compare the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Wildlife lens

$649
Weight Is lighter
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4G ED VR II

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4G ED VR II

Wildlife lens

$7,999
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Min focal length Has a much narrower wide angle lens
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4G ED VR II vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4G ED VR II vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Wildlife lens

$1,349
Prime lens Is a fixed focal length prime lens
Min focal length Has a significantly narrower wide angle lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Compare the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

Sports lens

$4,340
Prime lens Is a fixed focal length prime lens
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Min focal length Has a significantly narrower wide angle lens
Compare the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Compare the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Sports lens

$2,499
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Weight Lighter
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM

Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM

Sports lens

$5,999
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Min focal length Worse wide angle
Compare the EF 200mm f/2L IS USM vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO DG IF HSM Nikon-f

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO DG IF HSM Nikon-f

Sports lens

$2,999
Weight Slightly lighter
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO DG IF HSM Nikon-f vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Olympus Zuiko 90-250mm f/2.8 ED

Olympus Zuiko 90-250mm f/2.8 ED

Sports lens

$5,999
Min focal length Slightly better wide angle
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the Zuiko 90-250mm f/2.8 ED vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO DG IF HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO DG IF HSM Canon-ef

Sports lens

$2,999
Weight Slightly lighter
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO DG IF HSM Canon-ef vs the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Canon-ef

Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

Wildlife lens

$1,998
Zoom range More zoom
Aperture Wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$1,019
Max focal length Better telephoto
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Wildlife lens

$1,499
Zoom range More zoom
Min focal length Slightly better wide angle
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

Wildlife lens

$1,399
Aperture Wider aperture
Min focal length Slightly better wide angle
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

Travel lens

$2,554
Zoom range Much more zoom
Aperture Wider aperture
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

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