The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM and the Canon 24-70mm f4L IS USM 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. Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 105mm. The Canon 24-70mm f4L IS USM with a length of 93mm, is 12mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Canon 24-70mm f4L IS USM's 83mm 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 24-70mm f4L IS USM weighs 600g, 36% (350g) lighter than the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM's weight of 950g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM and the Canon 24-70mm f4L IS USM have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM and the Canon 24-70mm f4L IS USM 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.
Focal Range
Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM 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 Canon 24-70mm f4L IS USM has a focal range of 24-70mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 38.4 - 112mm.