The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Leica SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4 and the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 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 90-280 mm F2.8-4 is the longer of the two lenses at 238mm. The Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 with a length of 128mm, is 110mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Leica SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4 also has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135's 84mm 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 Apo Sonnar T2/135 weighs 920g, 46% (790g) lighter than the Leica SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4's weight of 1710g.
Filter Threads
The Leica SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4 has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 has a 77mm 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 Leica SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135:
Lens Mounts
The Leica SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4 has the Leica L lens mount whereas the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 has the Nikon F (FX) 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 Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 is also available in Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Leica SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4 has a focal range of 90-280mm and
3.1X zoom ratio .
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T2/135 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 135mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 202.5mm.
