The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 and the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED 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. Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED is the longer of the two lenses at 112mm. The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 with a length of 88mm, is 24mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50's 72mm 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. Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 weighs 530g, which means it is 250g (32%) lighter than the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED which has a weight of 780g.
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 and the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon PC-E 45mm f2.8D ED is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 45mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 67.5mm.