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 Sony FE 85mm F1.8 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 Sony FE 85mm F1.8 with a length of 82mm, is 24mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 has a larger diameter of 78mm 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 Sony FE 85mm F1.8 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. Sony FE 85mm F1.8 weighs 371g, 27% (144g) lighter than the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro's weight of 515g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 has a 67mm 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 67mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 85mm F1.8:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro and the Sony FE 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 A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR.
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Sigma SA 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 Sony FE 85mm F1.8 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.