The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 and the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A 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. Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A is the longer of the two lenses at 131mm. The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 with a length of 88mm, is 43mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A also has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50'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.
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A has a 82mm 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 T2/50:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 and the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A 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 T2/50 is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A is also available in Canon EF , Sigma SA, Sony E and Leica L mounts.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75mm.
On the other hand, the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 40mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 60mm.