The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro and the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM 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 Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM with a length of 105mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro's 71mm diameter.
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Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro and Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
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 70mm F2.8 DG Macro weighs 515g, which means it is 435g (45%) lighter than the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM which has a weight of 950g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 49mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro and the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sigma SA and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
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 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
112mm.
On the other hand, the Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 136mm.