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 Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 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. Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 is the longer of the two lenses at 108mm. The Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50 with a length of 69mm, is 39mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 also has a larger diameter of 80mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50's 66mm 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 Planar T1,4/50 weighs 350g, which means it is 600g (63%) lighter than the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 which has a weight of 950g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50 has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Planar T1,4/50 and the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 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.
Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
50mm and the fastest aperture of
F1.4.