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 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 Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM with a length of 105mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro's 71mm diameter.
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Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM and Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
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, 45% (435g) lighter than the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM's weight of 950g.
Filter Threads
The Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM has a filter size of 77mm 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 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM 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.
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sigma SA and Sony E mounts.
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 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.