The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II and the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM 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. Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II is the longer of the two lenses at 48mm. The Canon 40mm f2.8 STM with a length of 22mm, is 26mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM has a larger diameter of 68mm compared to the Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II's 64mm 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. Canon 40mm f2.8 STM weighs 130g, 59% (190g) lighter than the Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II's weight of 320g.
Filter Threads
The Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM:
Lens Mounts
The Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II has the Pentax KAF lens mount whereas the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II is also available in the Nikon F (FX) mount.
Focal Range
Voigtlander 58mm F1.4 SL II is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 58mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
87mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 40mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 64mm.
