The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM and the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 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. Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 123mm. The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 with a length of 113mm, is 10mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM also has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100's 76mm 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. Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM weighs 625g, which means it is 55g (8%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 which has a weight of 680g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Macro Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Macro Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM and the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 have the same Filter thread size of 67mm.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM and the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 is also available in Pentax KAF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
100mm but while Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM has the fastest aperture of
F2.8, the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100's widest aperture value is
F2.0.