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 Nikon Micro-105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR 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. Nikon Micro-105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 116mm. The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 with a length of 113mm, is 3mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon Micro-105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR also has a larger diameter of 83mm 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. Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 weighs 680g, which means it is 40g (5%) lighter than the Nikon Micro-105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR which has a weight of 720g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Macro Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Macro Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Nikon Micro-105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon Micro-105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 and the Nikon Micro-105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR 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 Makro-Planar T2/100 is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
150mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon Micro-105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 105mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 157.5mm.