The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro and the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM 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. Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 99mm. The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM with a length of 88mm, is 11mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM has a larger diameter of 86mm compared to the Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro'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. Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro weighs 505g, which means it is 220g (30%) lighter than the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM which has a weight of 725g.
Filter Threads
The Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro and the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Pentax KAF3 and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
150mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 127.5mm.