The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 50mm f1.8G and the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II 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. Nikon 50mm f1.8G is the longer of the two lenses at 53mm. The Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II with a length of 25mm, is 28mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 50mm f1.8G also has a larger diameter of 72mm compared to the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II's 63mm 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. Nikon 50mm f1.8G weighs 185g, which means it is 15g (7%) lighter than the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II which has a weight of 200g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 50mm f1.8G has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 50mm f1.8G:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 50mm f1.8G and the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon 50mm f1.8G is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75mm.
On the other hand, the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 40mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 60mm.