Zeiss Makro-Planar
50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
 vs
Nikon Nikkor
55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Wider aperture f/2 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest, the 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef captures slightly more light, 1 f-stop
Zeiss Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef Learn more about
the Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef

Reasons to consider the Nikon 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS
Significantly narrower aperture f/32 vs f/22
Help
 At its narrowest, the 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS goes 1.1 f-stops narrower
Cheaper $409.95 vs $1,283.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $873 cheaper (3.1x less)
Slightly shorter 69 mm vs 88 mm
Help
 More than 20% shorter
Slightly lighter 290 g vs 0.5 kg
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Nikon Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS Learn more about
the Nikon 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Prime lens Fixed focal length prime lenses Help
Typically very sharp
Magnification Great zoom Help
1:2 (0.5x)
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/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef:50 mm
55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS:55 mm

Compared to macro lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Magnification Poor magnification Help
1:2 (0.5x)

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor Micro 60mm f/2.8D

Nikon Nikkor Micro 60mm f/2.8D

Macro lens

$429
Magnification Has better macro
Auto focus Has autofocus
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the Nikkor Micro 60mm f/2.8D vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Compare the Nikkor Micro 60mm f/2.8D vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS
Canon 50mm f/2.5 Macro

Canon 50mm f/2.5 Macro

Macro lens

$269
Auto focus Has autofocus
Compare the 50mm f/2.5 Macro vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Compare the 50mm f/2.5 Macro vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS
Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIS

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIS

Low light lens

$650
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIS vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Compare the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIS vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Nikon-f

Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Nikon-f

Low light lens

$725
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Compare the Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Nikon-f vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Compare the Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Macro lens

$419
Magnification Has better macro
Auto focus Has autofocus
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Compare the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f

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

Macro lens

$369
Magnification Has better macro
Auto focus Has autofocus
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Compare the 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS

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

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Magnification Significantly less magnification
Compare the EF 50mm f/1.2L USM vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Macro lens

$549
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Auto focus Auto focus
Aperture Narrower aperture
Min focal length Worse wide angle
Compare the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef
Zeiss 85mm f/2 ZM Leica-m

Zeiss 85mm f/2 ZM Leica-m

Low light lens

$3,350
Max focal length Slightly better telephoto
Magnification Significantly less magnification
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the 85mm f/2 ZM Leica-m vs the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZE Macro Canon-ef

Nikon Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Nikkor AF-S Micro 60mm f/2.8G ED

Nikon Nikkor AF-S Micro 60mm f/2.8G ED

Macro lens

$499
Auto focus Auto focus
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Diameter Slightly larger diameter
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Nikkor AF-S Micro 60mm f/2.8G ED vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS
Nikon Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro

Nikon Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro

Lens

$277
Auto focus Auto focus
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Max focal length Slightly worse telephoto
Compare the Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS
Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZF.2 Nikon-f

Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZF.2 Nikon-f

Low light lens

$1,283
Aperture Wider aperture
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the Makro-Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZF.2 Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS

discussion Which do you think is better?

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