The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Leica Super-Elmar-M 18mm f3.8 ASPH and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2,8/15 ZM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses. Carl Zeiss Distagon T2,8/15 ZM is the longer of the two lenses at 92mm. The Leica Super-Elmar-M 18mm f3.8 ASPH with a length of 58mm, is 34mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2,8/15 ZM also has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Leica Super-Elmar-M 18mm f3.8 ASPH's 61mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Leica Super-Elmar-M 18mm f3.8 ASPH weighs 310g, which means it is 240g (43%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2,8/15 ZM which has a weight of 550g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Leica M Mount for size comparison purposes.
Wideangle Prime Lenses in Leica M Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Leica Super-Elmar-M 18mm f3.8 ASPH and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2,8/15 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, Leica M10 and Leica M Typ 262.
Focal Range
Leica Super-Elmar-M 18mm f3.8 ASPH is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 18mm. Carl Zeiss Distagon T2,8/15 ZM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 15mm.