The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 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 T2/35 is the longer of the two lenses at 99mm. The Canon 40mm f2.8 STM with a length of 22mm, is 77mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 also has a larger diameter of 72mm compared to the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM'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 40mm f2.8 STM weighs 130g, which means it is 440g (77%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 which has a weight of 570g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 40mm f2.8 STM has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 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 Distagon T2/35 is also available in Pentax KAF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 40mm f2.8 STM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 40mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
64mm.
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 35mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 56mm.