The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T4/18 ZM 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 Distagon T4/18 ZM is the longer of the two lenses at 71mm. The Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 with a length of 43mm, is 28mm shorter. On the other hand, the Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 has a larger diameter of 75mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Distagon T4/18 ZM's 65mm 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. Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 weighs 230g, which means it is 120g (34%) lighter than the Carl Zeiss Distagon T4/18 ZM which has a weight of 350g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Leica M Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Leica M Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Carl Zeiss Distagon T4/18 ZM has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Voigtlander 12mm F5.6:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Carl Zeiss Distagon T4/18 ZM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 and the Carl Zeiss Distagon T4/18 ZM has the same Leica M lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Leica M lenses are Leica M EV1, Leica M11-D and Pixii Max.
Focal Range
Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 12mm.
On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T4/18 ZM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 18mm.
