The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang 85mm F1.4 and the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro 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. Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 106mm. The Samyang 85mm F1.4 with a length of 75mm, is 31mm shorter. On the other hand, the Samyang 85mm F1.4 has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro's 71mm 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. Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro weighs 515g, 4% (24g) lighter than the Samyang 85mm F1.4's weight of 539g.
Filter Threads
The Samyang 85mm F1.4 has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro has a 49mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Samyang 85mm F1.4:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the Samyang 85mm F1.4 and the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro 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.
Samyang 85mm F1.4 is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Four Thirds, Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha, Sony E and Samsung NX mounts.
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sigma SA and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
Samyang 85mm F1.4 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
136mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 70mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112mm.