In this review, we will be comparing Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE and Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8, two Telephoto Prime lenses from Samyang and Zeiss. Both lenses have the same focal range of 85mm but different max apertures: Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE has a max aperture of F1.4 while the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 has a max aperture of F1.8.
We will start with briefly looking and the main specs of these two lenses and in the section, we will start analyzing in more detail and list the pros and cons of each lenses.
What type of photography are the Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE and Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 lenses good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE and the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
| Photography Type |
Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE |
Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 |
| Bird/Wildlife | Average | Average |
| Sports | Good | Good |
| Portrait | Excellent | Excellent |
| Travel | Fair | Fair |
| Street | Average | Average |
| Wedding | Very Good | Very Good |
| Walk Around | Fair | Fair |
| Vlogging | Average | Average |
| Landscape | Fair | Fair |
Size and Weight Comparison
Size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses.Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE is the longer of the two lenses at 100mm. The Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 with a length of 78mm is 22mm shorter. On the other hand, the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 has a larger diameter of 105mm compared to Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE's 88mm diameter.
Weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 weighs 475g, 16% (93g) lighter than the Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE's weight of 568g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the 'Telephoto Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE and Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 has the same Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony A7R V, Sony FX30 and Sony A7 IV.
Focal Range