In this review, we will be comparing Voigtlander 50mm F1.1 and Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM, two Standard Prime lenses from Voigtlander and Zeiss. Both lenses have the same focal range of 50mm but different max apertures: Voigtlander 50mm F1.1 has a max aperture of F1.1 while the Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM has a max aperture of F2.0.
We will start with briefly looking and the main specs of these two lenses and in the section, we will start analyzing in more detail and list the pros and cons of each lenses.
What type of photography are the Voigtlander 50mm F1.1 and Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM lenses good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Voigtlander 50mm F1.1 and the Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Photography Type |
Voigtlander 50mm F1.1 |
Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM |
Bird/Wildlife | Fair | Fair |
Sports | Average | Average |
Portrait | Excellent | Excellent |
Travel | Good | Good |
Street | Very Good | Very Good |
Wedding | Excellent | Excellent |
Walk Around | Good | Good |
Vlogging | Good | Good |
Landscape | Good | Good |
Size and Weight Comparison
Size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses.Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM is the longer of the two lenses at 68mm. The Voigtlander 50mm F1.1 with a length of 57mm is 11mm shorter. On the other hand, the Voigtlander 50mm F1.1 has a larger diameter of 70mm compared to Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM's 52mm diameter.
Weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM weighs 230g, 46% (198g) lighter than the Voigtlander 50mm F1.1's weight of 428g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the 'Standard Prime Lenses in Leica M Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Prime Lenses in Leica M Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both Voigtlander 50mm F1.1 and Carl Zeiss Planar T2/50 ZM has the same Leica M lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Leica M lenses are Leica M11, Leica M10 and Leica M Typ 262.
Focal Range