The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW and the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO 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. Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 215mm. The Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW with a length of 124mm, is 91mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 119mm compared to the Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW's 95mm 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. Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW weighs 1255g, which means it is 1145g (47%) lighter than the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM which has a weight of 2400g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM has a 46mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW has the Pentax KAF4 lens mount whereas the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM has the Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are , and for the Pentax KAF4 Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount.
Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW 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.
On the other hand, the Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 300mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 450mm.
