The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 and the Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM 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. Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 150mm. The Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 with a length of 128mm, is 22mm shorter. On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM's 80mm 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 Apo Sonnar T2/135 weighs 920g, which means it is 260g (22%) lighter than the Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM which has a weight of 1180g.
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 and the Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM 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 Apo Sonnar T2/135 is also available in Canon EF mount.
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM is also available in Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 135mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
202.5mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 150mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 225mm.