The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Leica SL 100mm F2.8 and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 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. Leica SL 100mm F2.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 137mm. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM with a length of 39mm, is 98mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Leica SL 100mm F2.8 also has a larger diameter of 77mm compared to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM's 69mm 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. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM weighs 159g, 80% (642g) lighter than the Leica SL 100mm F2.8's weight of 801g.
Filter Threads
The Leica SL 100mm F2.8 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM has a 49mm 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 Leica SL 100mm F2.8:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM:
Lens Mounts
The Leica SL 100mm F2.8 has the Leica L lens mount whereas the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Leica SL3-P, Panasonic S1 II and Panasonic S1 IIE for the Leica L Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Leica SL 100mm F2.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm.
On the other hand, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 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.
