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 PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D 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 Makro-Planar T2/100 is the longer of the two lenses at 113mm. The Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D with a length of 107mm, is 6mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D 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. Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D weighs 650g, 4% (30g) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100's weight of 680g.
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 and the Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D 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 PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 127.5mm.