The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S and the Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4 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. Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4 is the longer of the two lenses at 126mm. The Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S with a length of 99mm, is 27mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4 also has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S's 75mm 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 85mm F1.8 S weighs 470g, which means it is 704g (59%) lighter than the Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4 which has a weight of 1174g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4 has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4 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.
Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4 is also available in Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
127.5mm.
On the other hand, the Zeiss Milvus 35mm F1.4 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 35mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 52.5mm.
