The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro and the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 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 Makro-Planar T2/100 is the longer of the two lenses at 113mm. The Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro with a length of 98mm, is 15mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 also has a larger diameter of 76mm compared to the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro's 74mm 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. Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro weighs 460g, which means it is 220g (32%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 which has a weight of 680g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Macro Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Macro Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 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 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro and the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha, Sigma SA and Four Thirds mounts.
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 105mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
157.5mm.
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 150mm.