The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro and the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM 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 Sonnar T2/85 ZM is the longer of the two lenses at 100mm. The Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro with a length of 81mm, is 19mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM also has a larger diameter of 70mm compared to the Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro's 53mm 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. Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro weighs 289g, which means it is 211g (42%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM which has a weight of 500g.
Filter Threads
The Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro and the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM has the same Leica M lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Leica M lenses are Leica M EV1, Leica M11-D and Pixii Max.
Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro is also available in the Sony E , Canon RF, Nikon Z and Leica L mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
85mm but while Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro has the fastest aperture of
F5.6, the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM's widest aperture value is
F2.0.
