The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW and the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 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. Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW is the longer of the two lenses at 124mm. The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 with a length of 113mm, is 11mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW also has a larger diameter of 95mm 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, 45% (575g) lighter than the Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW's weight of 1255g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW has the Pentax KAF4 lens mount whereas the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 has the Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are , and for the Pentax KAF4 Mount and Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount.
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 is also available in Canon EF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Pentax-D FA 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW 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.
On the other hand, the 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.