The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE and the Zeiss Batis 18mm 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. Zeiss Batis 18mm F2.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 80mm. The Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE with a length of 61mm, is 19mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Zeiss Batis 18mm F2.8 also has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE'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 AF 18mm F2.8 FE weighs 145g, which means it is 185g (56%) lighter than the Zeiss Batis 18mm F2.8 which has a weight of 330g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Sony E Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Zeiss Batis 18mm F2.8 has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Zeiss Batis 18mm F2.8:
Lens Mounts
Both the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE and the Zeiss Batis 18mm 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
18mm and the fastest aperture of
F2.8.