Compare lenses

Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH vs Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM

The Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH and the Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH if you want a brighter f/1.2 (0.6 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds. On these specs the Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH and the Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecLeica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPHZeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM
MakerLeicaZeiss
Focal length50mm (prime)50mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent50mm50mm
Maximum aperturef/1.2brighterf/1.5
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsLeica MLeica M
Stabilisednono
Autofocusno, manual focusno, manual focus
Weight405 gnot listed
Cameras it fits20 in this guide20 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080050mm equiv.Leica
Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH: 50mm.
142435508513520040080050mm equiv.Zeiss
Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM: 50mm.

Aperture

f/1.2
Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH: f/1.2 wide open.
f/1.5
Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM: f/1.5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

Leica · 40°Zeiss · 40°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

20 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.

Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH

and 10 more

Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM

and 10 more

On their own pages