The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM and the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 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. Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM is the longer of the two lenses at 127mm. The Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 with a length of 78mm, is 49mm shorter. On the other hand, the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 has a larger diameter of 105mm compared to the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM's 90mm 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 85mm F1.8 weighs 475g, 50% (475g) lighter than the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM's weight of 950g.
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 Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 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 Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM and the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 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
Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 135mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
202.5mm.
On the other hand, the Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 127.5mm.