The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50 and the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses. Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 90mm. The Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50 with a length of 69mm, is 21mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 also has a larger diameter of 81mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50's 66mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50 weighs 350g, which means it is 295g (45%) lighter than the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 which has a weight of 645g.
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50 and the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 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 Planar T1,4/50 is also available in Pentax KAF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 80mm.
Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 45mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 72mm.