The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 and the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM 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 28mm f1.8 USM with a length of 56mm, is 43mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35'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. Canon 28mm f1.8 USM weighs 310g, 45% (260g) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35's weight of 570g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Wideangle Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
Both the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 and the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM have the same Filter thread size of 58mm.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/35 and the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM 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
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.
On the other hand, the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 28mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 44.8mm.