Sigma
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
 vs
Canon
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Significantly better wide angle 120 mm vs 300 mm
Help
 2.5x better wide angle
More zoom 3.3x vs 1x
Help
 Around 3.5x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Better telephoto 400 mm vs 300 mm
Help
 More than 30% more reach, less perspective distortion
Slightly cheaper $899.00 vs $1,349.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $450 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Slightly shorter 204 mm vs 221 mm
Help
 Around 10% shorter
Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef Learn more about
the Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef

Reasons to consider the Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Is a prime lens Yes vs No
Help
 Prime lenses have a single focal length, they are typically sharper and have wider apertures
Significantly narrower aperture f/32 vs f/22
Help
 At its narrowest, the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM goes 1.1 f-stops narrower
Better image stabilization Canon IS vs Sigma OS
Help
 Less risk of blur
Wider aperture f/4 vs f/4.5
Help
 At its widest, the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM captures marginally more light, 0.3 f-stops
Lighter 1.2 kg vs 1.7 kg
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM Learn more about
the Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus motor Silent focus motor Help
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef:Sigma HSM
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM:Canon USM
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef:Sigma OS
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM:Canon IS
Max focal length Good telephoto Help
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef:400 mm
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM:300 mm
Length Quite long Help
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef:204 mm
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM:221 mm
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef:f/4.5
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM:f/4
Min focal length Poor wide angle Help
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef:120 mm
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM:300 mm

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Zoom range Poor zoom Help
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef:3.3x
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM:1x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 400mm f/5.6L USM

Canon 400mm f/5.6L USM

Wildlife lens

$1,219
Min focal length Has a much narrower wide angle lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 400mm f/5.6L USM vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Compare the 400mm f/5.6L USM vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

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

Wildlife lens

$1,699
Compare the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Compare the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM vs the EF 300mm f/4L 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
Length Is shorter
Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM

Telephoto lens

$629
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/4L USM vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/4L USM vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4D ED-IF

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4D ED-IF

Wildlife lens

$1,134
Min focal length Has a significantly narrower wide angle lens
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4D ED-IF vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4D ED-IF vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Wildlife lens

$169
Length Is shorter
Weight Is lighter
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

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

Sports lens

$1,899
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

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

Advantages

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

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

Wildlife lens

$649
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Canon-ef

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$449
Weight Lighter
Aperture Wider aperture
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Canon-ef vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Low light lens

$92 - $110
Aperture Much wider aperture
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Max focal length Much worse telephoto
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax SMC DA* 300mm f/4 ED SDM

Pentax SMC DA* 300mm f/4 ED SDM

Wildlife lens

$1,397
Length Shorter
Weight Slightly lighter
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the SMC DA* 300mm f/4 ED SDM vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

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

Sports lens

$3,399
Aperture Wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Weight Heavier
Compare the 300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Canon-ef vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

Sports lens

$1,289
Min focal length Much better wide angle
Aperture Wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8L USM vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM

Sports lens

$3,599
Min focal length Significantly better wide angle
Aperture Wider aperture
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM vs the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Wildlife lens

$397
Min focal length Much better wide angle
Zoom range Significantly more zoom
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR vs the EF 300mm f/4L 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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