The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 and the Samyang 85mm F1.4 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 FE 85mm F1.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 82mm. The Samyang 85mm F1.4 with a length of 75mm, is 7mm shorter. On the other hand, there is no difference between the max diameters of these lenses, both coming at 78mm.
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, which means it is 168g (31%) lighter than the Samyang 85mm F1.4 which has a weight of 539g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Sony E Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Samyang 85mm F1.4 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 85mm F1.8:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Samyang 85mm F1.4:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 and the Samyang 85mm F1.4 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.
Samyang 85mm F1.4 is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Four Thirds, Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Samsung NX mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
85mm but while Sony FE 85mm F1.8 has the fastest aperture of
F1.8, the Samyang 85mm F1.4's widest aperture value is
F1.4.