The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Leica APO 135mm f3.4 ASPH 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. Leica APO 135mm f3.4 ASPH is the longer of the two lenses at 105mm. The Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM with a length of 100mm, is 5mm shorter. On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM has a larger diameter of 70mm compared to the Leica APO 135mm f3.4 ASPH's 59mm 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. Leica APO 135mm f3.4 ASPH weighs 450g, which means it is 50g (9%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM which has a weight of 500g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Leica M Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Leica M Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Leica APO 135mm f3.4 ASPH has a filter size of 49mm 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 49mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Leica APO 135mm f3.4 ASPH:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Leica APO 135mm f3.4 ASPH 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 M11 Monochrome, Leica M11 and Leica M10.
Focal Range
Leica APO 135mm f3.4 ASPH is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 135mm.
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T2/85 ZM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm.