The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF and the Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA 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. Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA is the longer of the two lenses at 115mm. The Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF with a length of 99mm, is 16mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF's 80mm 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. Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF weighs 730g, which means it is 320g (30%) lighter than the Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA which has a weight of 1050g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA 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 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF and the Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
135mm but while Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF has the fastest aperture of
F2.8, the Sony 135mm F1.8 ZA's widest aperture value is
F1.8.
