The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM and the Samyang XP 50mm F1.2 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. Samyang XP 50mm F1.2 is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM with a length of 91mm, is 26mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Samyang XP 50mm F1.2 also has a larger diameter of 93mm compared to the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM's 78mm 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 RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM weighs 500g, which means it is 700g (58%) lighter than the Samyang XP 50mm F1.2 which has a weight of 1200g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Samyang XP 50mm F1.2 has a 86mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM:
And these are the 86mm filters that we recommend for the Samyang XP 50mm F1.2:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Samyang XP 50mm F1.2 has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM 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 Samyang XP 50mm F1.2 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 80mm.
