Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA vs Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS
Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA vs Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS
When comparing Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS and Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA, which one is better?
1. Lens Weight Comparison
Regarding the weight of the lenses, Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA is the winner with a weight of 281 g compared to the 1395 g that Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS weighs.
Winner: Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA
Regarding weight: The weight of a lens is something you need to consider, since you have to carry it around on the camera as long as you're shooting. It adds to the total weight of your camera and it's important to keep the weight low if you get tired in your arms when taking photographs or filming.
2. Lens Mount Comparison
These two lenses use the same lens mount, the Sony E. This means that both lenses are compatible with cameras that use this mount.
Winner: Tied
Regarding lens mount: Popular lens mounts are Canon RF and EF, Micro Four Thirds and Nikon Z. Different lens mounts lets you connect different lenses to camera bodies, but some might not be compatible. This can be helped by using an adapter, like a Canon EF to RF adapter.
3. Largest Aperture Comparison
The Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA has the largest aperture of the two lenses at 1.8 compared to the 4.5 - 5.6 aperture of Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS. This means that you get more light to your sensor using Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA wide open, and therefore it might be a better lens in dark situations.
Winner: Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA
Regarding largest aperture: A lower aperture number means that the widest aperture on the lens is larger. This means that more light will hit the sensor and also that the depth of field will be shallower, better separating your subject from the background.
4. Anamorphic Comparison
Neither Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS or Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA are anamorphic lenses.
Winner: Tied — Neither have this feature
Regarding anamorphic: Anamorphic lenses are usually used on cinema cameras and squeezes the image when its recorded, which gives the final, stretched out, image oval bokeh and a different angle of view. The most common lenses, however, are not anamorphic but spherical, which gives a spherical bokeh and is a much cheaper lens design.
5. Focus Distance Comparison
Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA features a minimum focus distance of 50 cm while Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS has a minimum focus distance of 98 cm. Depending on your shooting style, the Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA might be a better choice.
Winner: Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA
Regarding minimum focus distance: The minimum focus distance of a lens is the smallest distance from the lens to the subject you want to be in focus; subjects closer than the lens' minimum focus distance will not be in focus. Whether or not this is important to you is up for you to decide, but some want to take close photos and videos and in those cases it's important to have a lens with a low minimum focus distance.
6. Lens Type Comparison
The Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA is a Prime lens while the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS is a Zoom lens. Whether or not a zoom lens or a prime lens is what you need, is up to you to decide; they both have their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Winner: Tied — It depends on your gear
Regarding type: There are two types of lenses; zoom lenses and prime lenses. Prime lenses have a fixed focal length and cannot be zoomed, while zoom lenses have a focal length range and can be zoomed in to get closer to the subject. Prime lenses are usually lighter, cheaper and let in more light. Zoom lenses are more versatile but are more expensive since they require a more advanced lens design.
7. Aperture Blade Comparison
Both Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA and Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS have 9 aperture blades, which means they should both have a similar bokeh shape and roundness.
Winner: Tied
Regarding aperture blades: The number of aperture blades makes a difference because the bokeh is smoother the more aperture blades the lens has. Of course, this does not mean the lens is better in other regards, but it can be an interesting aspect when deciding of a lens.
Specifications
Full specifications table of Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA and Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS:
| Zeiss Sonnar T* E 55 mm f1,8 ZA | Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS | |
 |  | |
| Brand | Zeiss | Sony |
| Weight | 281 g | 1395 g |
| Lens Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Focal Length | 55 mm | 100 - 400 mm |
| Largest Aperture | 1.8 | 4.5 - 5.6 |
| Anamorphic | No | No |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 50 cm | 98 cm |
| Type | Prime | Zoom |
| Filter Thread Diameter | Missing | 77 |
| Lens Front Diameter (Not Filter Thread) | 49 mm | Missing |
| Aperture Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Lens Groups | Missing | 16 |
| Lens Elements | Missing | 22 |
| Image Stabilization | Missing | Yes |
| Autofocus | Missing | Evet |
| Macro | Missing | No |
| Weather Seal | Missing | Yes |
| Full Frame Coverage | Missing | Yes |
| Lens Hood Included | Missing | Yes |
| Stabilization Type | Missing | Sony Optical SteadyShot (OSS) |