Zeiss
50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
 vs
Nikon Nikkor
PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Significantly wider aperture f/1.4 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest, the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef captures much more light, 2 f-stops
Shorter 69 mm vs 112 mm
Help
 Around 40% shorter
Cheaper $725.00 vs $1,749.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,024 cheaper (2.4x less)
Lighter 330 g vs 0.7 kg
Help
 2.2x lighter
Slightly smaller diameter 66 mm vs 83 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller lens at the end
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef Learn more about
the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef

Reasons to consider the Nikon PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED
Tilt-shift lens Yes vs No
Help
 Can achieve selective focus simulating a miniature effect, and correct for perspective distortion of straight lines
Much narrower aperture f/32 vs f/16
Help
 At its narrowest, the PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED goes 2 f-stops narrower
Nikon Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED Learn more about
the Nikon PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Prime lens Fixed focal length prime lenses Help
Typically very sharp
Auto focus Auto focus Help
Focus yourself
Focus motor No silent focus motor Help
Louder and slower
Zoom range Poor zoom Help
1x
Max focal length Poor telephoto Help
50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef:50 mm
PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED:45 mm

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Zeiss Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef

Zeiss Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef

Macro lens

$1,283
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Compare the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

Low light lens

$1,549
Auto focus Has autofocus
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Magnification Has worse macro
Compare the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Compare the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED
Leica Summarit 75mm f/2.5

Leica Summarit 75mm f/2.5

Low light lens

$1,895
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the Summarit 75mm f/2.5 vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Compare the Summarit 75mm f/2.5 vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED
Leica Summarit 35mm f/2.5

Leica Summarit 35mm f/2.5

Low light lens

$1,895
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the Summarit 35mm f/2.5 vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Compare the Summarit 35mm f/2.5 vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED

Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

Low light lens

$349
Auto focus Auto focus
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Compare the 50mm f/1.4 USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Low light lens

$399
Auto focus Auto focus
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Diameter Slightly larger diameter
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Low light lens

$92 - $110
Auto focus Auto focus
Wide maximum Narrower aperture
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Low light lens

$1,439
Auto focus Auto focus
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the EF 50mm f/1.2L USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f

Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f

Macro lens

$369
Auto focus Auto focus
Wide maximum Much narrower aperture
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Compare the 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f vs the 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Canon-ef

Nikon Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8

Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8

Tilt-shift lens

$1,284
Length Slightly shorter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Magnification Significantly less magnification
Compare the TS-E 45mm f/2.8 vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED
Nikon Nikkor PC-E Micro 85mm f/2.8D

Nikon Nikkor PC-E Micro 85mm f/2.8D

Tilt-shift lens

$1,599
Max focal length Slightly better telephoto
Min focal length Worse wide angle
Compare the Nikkor PC-E Micro 85mm f/2.8D vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED
Nikon Nikkor PC-E 24mm f/3.5D ED

Nikon Nikkor PC-E 24mm f/3.5D ED

Tilt-shift lens

$1,969
Min focal length Slightly better wide angle
Aperture Narrower aperture
Magnification Less magnification
Compare the Nikkor PC-E 24mm f/3.5D ED vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II

Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II

Tilt-shift lens

$1,949
Length Slightly shorter
Min focal length Slightly better wide angle
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED
Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 M

Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 M

Wide angle lens
Min focal length Slightly better wide angle
Tilt-shift Not a tilt-shift lens
Max focal length Slightly worse telephoto
Compare the Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 M vs the Nikkor PC-E Micro 45mm f/2.8D ED

discussion Which do you think is better?

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