The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS and the Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95 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. Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95 is the longer of the two lenses at 75mm. The Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS with a length of 63mm, is 12mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95 also has a larger diameter of 64mm compared to the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS'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. Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS weighs 225g, which means it is 346g (60%) lighter than the Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95 which has a weight of 571g.
Filter Threads
The Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95 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 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95:
Lens Mounts
Both the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS and the Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95 has the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Micro Four Thirds lenses are OM System OM-1 II, Panasonic G9 II and OM System OM-5.
Focal Range
Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 45mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
90mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 43mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 86mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.