The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 24mm f2.8 IS USM and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25 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. Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25 is the longer of the two lenses at 95mm. The Canon 24mm f2.8 IS USM with a length of 56mm, is 39mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25 also has a larger diameter of 71mm compared to the Canon 24mm f2.8 IS USM's 68mm 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 24mm f2.8 IS USM weighs 280g, which means it is 290g (50%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25 which has a weight of 570g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 24mm f2.8 IS USM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25 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 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 24mm f2.8 IS USM:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 24mm f2.8 IS USM has the Canon EF lens mount whereas the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25 has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV for the Canon EF Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25 is also available in Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Canon 24mm f2.8 IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 24mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
38.4mm.
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/25 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 25mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 37.5mm.