The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 and the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM 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. Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 is the longer of the two lenses at 41mm. The Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM with a length of 30mm, is 11mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 also has a larger diameter of 68mm compared to the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM's 51mm 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. Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM weighs 135g, 12% (20g) lighter than the Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3's weight of 155g.
Filter Threads
The Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM has a 39mm 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 Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3:
And these are the 39mm filters that we recommend for the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM:
Lens Mounts
The Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 has the Leica L lens mount whereas the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM has the Leica M lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Leica SL3-P, Panasonic S1 II and Panasonic S1 IIE for the Leica L Mount and Leica M EV1, Leica M11-D and Pixii Max for the Leica M Mount.
Focal Range
Panasonic 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 has a focal range of 18-40mm and
2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
27 - 60mm.
On the other hand, the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM 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.
