The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss C Sonnar T1,5/50 ZM and the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 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 Apo Sonnar T2/135 is the longer of the two lenses at 128mm. The Carl Zeiss C Sonnar T1,5/50 ZM with a length of 63mm, is 65mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Carl Zeiss C Sonnar T1,5/50 ZM's 56mm 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 C Sonnar T1,5/50 ZM weighs 350g, which means it is 570g (61%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 which has a weight of 920g.
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss C Sonnar T1,5/50 ZM has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 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 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Carl Zeiss C Sonnar T1,5/50 ZM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135:
Lens Mounts
The Carl Zeiss C Sonnar T1,5/50 ZM has the Leica M lens mount whereas the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Leica M EV1, Leica M11-D and Pixii Max for the Leica M Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss C Sonnar T1,5/50 ZM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm.
On the other hand, the 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 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 216mm.
