Compare lenses

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM vs Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM and the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports if you want a fit on more cameras (39 against 22 in this guide). On these specs the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM and the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM	Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports
Maker	Canon	Sigma
Focal length	500mm (prime)	500mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent	500mm	500mm
Maximum aperture	f/4	f/4
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF, Nikon F
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Cameras it fits	22 in this guide	39 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM: 500mm.

Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports: 500mm.

Aperture

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM: f/4 wide open.

Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports: f/4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

22 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM fits 22 and the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports 39.