The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Zeiss Otus 50mm f1.4 and the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II 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 50mm f1.4 is the longer of the two lenses at 100mm. The Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II with a length of 25mm, is 75mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Zeiss Otus 50mm f1.4 also has a larger diameter of 77mm compared to the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II's 63mm 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 40mm F2 SL II weighs 200g, 70% (477g) lighter than the Zeiss Otus 50mm f1.4's weight of 677g.
Filter Threads
The Zeiss Otus 50mm f1.4 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Zeiss Otus 50mm f1.4:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II:
Lens Mounts
The Zeiss Otus 50mm f1.4 has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Zeiss Otus 50mm f1.4 is also available in the Sony E and Nikon Z mounts.
Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II is also available in Canon EF and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Zeiss Otus 50mm f1.4 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.
On the other hand, the Voigtlander 40mm F2 SL II is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 40mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 60mm.
