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 Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM 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 85mm F1.4 DG HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 126mm. The Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro with a length of 106mm, is 20mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 95mm 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 Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM 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 615g (54%) lighter than the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM which has a weight of 1130g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM has a 86mm 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 86mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro and the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM 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 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is also available in Canon EF , Sigma SA and Sony E mounts.
Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM is also available in Sigma SA and Canon EF 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 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
105mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 127.5mm.