The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM and the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ 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. Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ is the longer of the two lenses at 73mm. The Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM with a length of 52mm, is 21mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ also has a larger diameter of 82mm compared to the Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM's 70mm 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. Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM weighs 175g, which means it is 385g (68%) lighter than the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ which has a weight of 560g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM and the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
85mm but while Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM has the fastest aperture of
F2.8, the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ's widest aperture value is
F1.4.