The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM and the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS 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 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM with a length of 102mm, is 24mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM also has a larger diameter of 95mm compared to the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM's 74mm 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 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM weighs 420g, 62% (710g) lighter than the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM's weight of 1130g.
Filter Threads
The Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM has a filter size of 86mm whereas the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM has a 55mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 86mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM:
And these are the 55mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM and the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM has the same Sigma SA lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sigma SA lenses are Sigma Quattro, Sigma Quattro H and Sigma SD1 Merrill.
Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM is also available in the Nikon F (FX) and Canon EF mounts.
Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF3, Sony Alpha and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM has a focal range of 50-200mm and 4.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 75-300mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
