The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 and the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS 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. Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 123mm. The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 with a length of 113mm, is 10mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM also has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100's 76mm 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 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM weighs 625g, 8% (55g) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100's weight of 680g.
Filter Threads
Both the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 and the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM have the same Filter thread size of 67mm.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount whereas the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) 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 Makro-Planar T2/100 is also available in the Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
100mm but while Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 has the fastest aperture of
F2.0, the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM's widest aperture value is
F2.8.
