The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 85mm f1.8 USM and the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 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. Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 is the longer of the two lenses at 138mm. The Canon 85mm f1.8 USM with a length of 72mm, is 66mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 also has a larger diameter of 101mm compared to the Canon 85mm f1.8 USM's 75mm 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. Canon 85mm f1.8 USM weighs 425g, which means it is 775g (64%) lighter than the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 which has a weight of 1200g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon 85mm f1.8 USM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 has a 86mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 85mm f1.8 USM:
And these are the 86mm filters that we recommend for the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 85mm f1.8 USM and the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 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.
Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
85mm but while Canon 85mm f1.8 USM has the fastest aperture of
F1.8, the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4's widest aperture value is
F1.4.