The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 105mm F2.8 VR S and the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 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 Z 105mm F2.8 VR S is the longer of the two lenses at 140mm. The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 with a length of 88mm, is 52mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon Z 105mm F2.8 VR S also has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50's 72mm 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 Makro-Planar T2/50 weighs 530g, 15% (100g) lighter than the Nikon Z 105mm F2.8 VR S's weight of 630g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 105mm F2.8 VR S has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 105mm F2.8 VR S:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 105mm F2.8 VR S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 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 Makro-Planar T2/50 is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 105mm F2.8 VR S is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 105mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
157.5mm.
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/50 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.
