The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS and the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 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. Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS is the longer of the two lenses at 81mm. The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II with a length of 80mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II has a larger diameter of 69mm compared to the Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS's 68mm 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 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II weighs 190g, 44% (154g) lighter than the Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS's weight of 344g.
Filter Threads
The Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II:
Lens Mounts
The Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II has the Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony ZV-E10 II, Sony A6700 and Sony FX30 for the Sony E Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount.
Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS is also available in the Canon EF-M and Fujifilm X mounts.
Focal Range
Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS 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 Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II has a focal range of 18-55mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 28.8-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
