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 Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM 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 Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM with a length of 52mm, is 29mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM has a larger diameter of 70mm 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. Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM weighs 175g, 49% (169g) 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 Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM has a 55mm 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 55mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM:
Lens Mounts
The Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM has the Sony Alpha 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 Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount.
Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS is also available in the Canon EF-M and Fujifilm X mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
85mm but while Samyang 85mm F1.8 ED UMC CS has the fastest aperture of
F1.8, the Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM's widest aperture value is
F2.8.
