The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 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. Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 is the longer of the two lenses at 128mm. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM with a length of 39mm, is 89mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 also has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM's 69mm 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 EF 50mm f/1.8 STM weighs 159g, 84% (881g) lighter than the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4's weight of 1040g.
Filter Threads
The Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM has a 49mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM:
Lens Mounts
The Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 is also available in the Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Sony E and Canon RF mounts.
Focal Range
Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
127.5mm.
On the other hand, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 80mm.
