The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Leica M 35mm f1.2 and the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II 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. Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II is the longer of the two lenses at 107mm. The Leica M 35mm f1.2 with a length of 50mm, is 57mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II also has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Leica M 35mm f1.2's 65mm 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. Leica M 35mm f1.2 weighs 416g, which means it is 226g (35%) lighter than the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II which has a weight of 642g.
Filter Threads
The Leica M 35mm f1.2 has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 49mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Leica M 35mm f1.2:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II:
Lens Mounts
The Leica M 35mm f1.2 has the Leica M lens mount whereas the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has the Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Leica M EV1, Leica M11-D and Pixii Max for the Leica M Mount and Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount.
Focal Range
Leica M 35mm f1.2 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 35mm.
On the other hand, the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II 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.
