The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE and the Zeiss Batis 135mm F2.8 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. Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE is the longer of the two lenses at 130mm. The Zeiss Batis 135mm F2.8 with a length of 120mm, is 10mm shorter. On the other hand, the Zeiss Batis 135mm F2.8 has a larger diameter of 98mm compared to the Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE's 93mm 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. Zeiss Batis 135mm F2.8 weighs 614g, 20% (158g) lighter than the Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE's weight of 772g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Sony E Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Zeiss Batis 135mm F2.8 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 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Zeiss Batis 135mm F2.8:
Lens Mounts
Both the Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE and the Zeiss Batis 135mm F2.8 has the same Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
135mm but while Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE has the fastest aperture of
F1.8, the Zeiss Batis 135mm F2.8's widest aperture value is
F2.8.