Compare lenses

Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM vs Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it and coverage of full frame, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too. Pick the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary if you want a brighter f/1.4 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a design for APS-C, which usually means smaller and lighter; a fit on more cameras (180 against 18 in this guide); and a lighter lens (280 g against 500 g).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM	Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Maker	Canon	Sigma
Focal length	85mm (macro)	56mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent	85mm	84mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/2	f/1.4brighter
Made for	Full frame	APS-C
Mounts	Canon RF	Sony E, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, L-Mount, Canon RF, Nikon Z
Stabilised	yesstabilised	no
Autofocus	yes	yes
Weight	500 g	280 glighter
Cameras it fits	18 in this guide	180 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM: 85mm.

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: 56mm on APS-C, like 84mm.

Aperture

Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM: f/2 wide open.

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: f/1.4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

18 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM fits 18 and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary 180.