Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM?

The Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM opens to f/2.8, against f/2.8-4 on the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM.

Which is lighter, the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM?

The Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM weighs 470 g, 95 g less than the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM (565 g).

Which focuses closer, the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM?

The Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM focuses down to 0.22 m, against 0.28 m for the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM.

Do the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM and the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM have image stabilization?

Yes, both lenses have optical image stabilization.

Is the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM better for landscape photography?

For landscape photography, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it is 95 g lighter to carry.

Is the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM better for architecture?

For architecture, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it is 95 g lighter to carry.

§ 03 Head to head

Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM vs Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM

Sigma 17–50mm f/2.8 has a brighter maximum aperture. Sigma 17–70mm f/2.8-4 has a longer reach.

Both lenses are made for the Nikon F mount: the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a 17–50mm f/2.8 zoom, and the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM is a 17–70mm f/2.8-4 zoom. On paper the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM comes out ahead, 6 advantages to 1, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM

f/2.8 · 17–50mm · 565 g

Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM

f/2.8-4 · 17–70mm · 470 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM better than the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM?

Brighter maximum aperture (f/2.8 vs f/2.8-4)

Why is the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM better than the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM?

Longer reach (70mm vs 50mm)
95 g lighter (470 g vs 565 g)
13 mm shorter (79 mm vs 91.8 mm long)
Focuses 6 cm closer (0.22 m vs 0.28 m)
Smaller filter thread (72 mm vs 77 mm)
Newer design (2012 vs 2010)

Which should you buy?

By use

landscape For landscape photography, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it is 95 g lighter to carry.
architecture For architecture, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it is 95 g lighter to carry.
macro For macro photography, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.22 m.

Specification

15 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM	Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM
Focal length	17–50mm	17–70mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8 ◆	f/2.8-4
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Lens type	Zoom lens	Zoom lens
Format	APS-C	APS-C
Weight	565 g (19.93 oz)	470 g (16.58 oz) ◆
Dimensions	83.5 x 91.8 mm	82 x 79 mm
Minimum focusing distance	0.28 m (11.02 inches)	0.22 m (8.66 inches) ◆
Image stabilization	Yes	Yes
Aperture ring	—	No
Aperture blades	7	7
Optical construction	17 elements / 13 groups	16 elements / 14 groups
Filter size	77 mm	72 mm ◆
Lens mount	Nikon F, Sony A, Sigma SA, Pentax K, Canon EF-S	Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K, Canon EF-S
Released	2010	2012

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Sigma
B · Sigma

91.8 × 83.5 mm
79 × 82 mm

The Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is 13 mm longer and 95 g heavier than the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens