The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A and the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 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. Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 is the longer of the two lenses at 141mm. The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A with a length of 100mm, is 41mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A's 85mm 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. Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A weighs 815g, which means it is 155g (15%) lighter than the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 which has a weight of 970g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
Both the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A and the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A and the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A is also available in Canon EF , Sony Alpha, Sigma SA and Leica L mounts.
Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 is also available in Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75mm.
On the other hand, the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 55mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 82.5mm.