Compare lenses

Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM vs Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM

The Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM and the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM if you want a brighter f/1.5 (0.8 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds. On these specs the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 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 Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM and the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecZeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZMZeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM
MakerZeissZeiss
Focal length50mm (prime)50mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent50mm50mm
Maximum aperturef/1.5brighterf/2
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsLeica MLeica M
Stabilisednono
Autofocusno, manual focusno, manual focus
Cameras it fits20 in this guide20 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080050mm equiv.C Sonnar T*
Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM: 50mm.
142435508513520040080050mm equiv.Planar T* 50mm
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM: 50mm.

Aperture

f/1.5
Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM: f/1.5 wide open.
f/2
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM: f/2 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

C Sonnar T* · 40°Planar T* 50mm · 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.

Zeiss C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM

and 10 more

Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZM

and 10 more

On their own pages