The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Micro-85mm f3.5G ED VR 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 Nikon Micro-85mm f3.5G ED VR with a length of 99mm, is 7mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon Micro-85mm f3.5G ED VR has a larger diameter of 73mm compared to the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro's 71mm 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. Nikon Micro-85mm f3.5G ED VR weighs 355g, which means it is 160g (31%) lighter than the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro which has a weight of 515g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Micro-85mm f3.5G ED VR has a filter size of 52mm 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 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Micro-85mm f3.5G ED VR:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Micro-85mm f3.5G ED VR has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount whereas the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is also available in Canon EF , Sigma SA and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon Micro-85mm f3.5G ED VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
127.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
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 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105mm.