The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang 20mm F1.8 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 Samyang 20mm F1.8 with a length of 88mm, is 5mm shorter. On the other hand, the Samyang 20mm F1.8 has a larger diameter of 83mm 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. Samyang 20mm F1.8 weighs 497g, which means it is 23g (4%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 which has a weight of 520g.
Filter Threads
The Samyang 20mm F1.8 has a filter size of 77mm 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 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Samyang 20mm F1.8:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28:
Lens Mounts
Both the Samyang 20mm F1.8 and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 has the same Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF lenses are Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Samyang 20mm F1.8 is also available in Canon EF , Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon F (FX), Samsung NX, Sony Alpha and Sony E mounts.
Carl Zeiss Distagon T2/28 is also available in Canon EF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Samyang 20mm F1.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 20mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
30mm.
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.