The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 40mm F2 and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 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. Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 is the longer of the two lenses at 93mm. The Nikon Z 40mm F2 with a length of 46mm, is 47mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon Z 40mm F2 has a larger diameter of 70mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28's 64mm 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 Z 40mm F2 weighs 170g, which means it is 350g (67%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 which has a weight of 520g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 40mm F2 has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 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 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 40mm F2:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 40mm F2 has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 40mm F2 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.
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 28mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 42mm.