The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4 and the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S 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. Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4 is the longer of the two lenses at 103mm. The Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S with a length of 87mm, is 16mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4 also has a larger diameter of 77mm compared to the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S's 76mm 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. Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S weighs 415g, 43% (322g) lighter than the Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4's weight of 737g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Prime Lenses in Nikon Z Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Nikon Z Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S has a 62mm 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 Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S:
Lens Mounts
Both the Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4 and the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S has the same Nikon Z lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon Z lenses are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z.
Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4 is also available in the Sony E and Canon RF mounts.
Focal Range
Zeiss Otus 35mm f1.4 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 35mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
52.5mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 75mm.
