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 Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra 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. Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 125mm. The Canon 85mm f1.8 USM with a length of 72mm, is 53mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 85mm f1.8 USM has a larger diameter of 75mm compared to the Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro's 72mm 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 213g (33%) lighter than the Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro which has a weight of 638g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 85mm f1.8 USM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro has a 67mm 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 67mm filters that we recommend for the Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 85mm f1.8 USM and the Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra 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.
Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Pentax KAF2 and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 85mm f1.8 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 Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 160mm.