The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 and the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 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. Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 is the longer of the two lenses at 128mm. The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 with a length of 82mm, is 46mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 also has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Sony FE 85mm F1.8's 78mm 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 FE 85mm F1.8 weighs 371g, 64% (669g) lighter than the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4's weight of 1040g.
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 Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 85mm F1.8:
Lens Mounts
Both the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 and the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 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.
Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 is also available in the Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
85mm but while Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 has the fastest aperture of
F1.4, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8's widest aperture value is
F1.8.
