Larger lenses for digital cameras?

[BOOSTD]

Hello all, I have a 1981 Minolta x-700 with a rokkor 50mm lens f/1.4. The other day I was comparing it to my Canon ef 85mm f/1.8 and noticed that (in general) film camera lenses have significantly smaller diameter lenses (just the glass) than newer digital SLR lenses. Having compared similar focal lengths and max aperture lenses from the canon line and (antique) Minolta 35mm lenses, it seems like this is the trend. Has the diameter of newer lenses been increased to accommodate the lower light sensitivity of CMOS sensors vs film (IS there a difference in sensitivity?).

thanks!
BOOSTD

 

[ChrisA]

Hello all, I have a 1981 Minolta x-700 with a rokkor 50mm lens f/1.4. The other day I was comparing it to my Canon ef 85mm f/1.8 and noticed that (in general) film camera lenses have significantly smaller diameter lenses

You have to compare lenses with identical specs. Film or digital, an 85mm f/1.8 lens will be larger then a 50mm f/1.4 Do you have examples where you meared the diameter of the two same-spec lenses?