The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE and the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM 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 135mm F1.8 GM is the longer of the two lenses at 127mm. The Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE with a length of 80mm, is 47mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE has a larger diameter of 93mm compared to the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM's 90mm 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. Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE weighs 645g, which means it is 305g (32%) lighter than the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM which has a weight of 950g.
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 Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM has a 82mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE and the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM 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.
Focal Range
Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE 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 FE 135mm F1.8 GM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 135mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 202.5mm.