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 Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA 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 Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA is the longer of the two lenses at 108mm. The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 with a length of 82mm, is 26mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Sony FE 85mm F1.8's 78mm diameter.
Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Sony FE 85mm F1.8 and Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
Comparison image of the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 and the Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA Size and Weight 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 407g (52%) lighter than the Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA which has a weight of 778g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA 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 Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 and the Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA has the same Sony E lens mount . Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony FX5 , Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V .
Focal Range
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 .
On the other hand, the Sony Zeiss FE 50mm F1.4 ZA is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 75mm .
