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 200mm f2L IS USM 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. Canon 200mm f2L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 208mm. The Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 with a length of 138mm, is 70mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 128mm compared to the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4's 101mm 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. Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 weighs 1200g, which means it is 1320g (52%) lighter than the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM which has a weight of 2520g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 has a filter size of 86mm whereas the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM 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 86mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 and the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
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 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
136mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 200mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 320mm.