Sony 500mm F4 G SSM vs Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z)
Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.
Verdict at a glance
- Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z) is faster by 2.3 stops (f/1.8 vs f/4.0), letting in more light.
- Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z) is lighter by 2410g.
- Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z) goes wider (135mm vs 500mm).
- Sony 500mm F4 G SSM reaches further (500mm vs 135mm).
- Sony 500mm F4 G SSM is the newer design (2012 vs 2006).
| Spec | 500mm F4 G SSM | Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z) |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sony | Sony |
| Mount | Sony A | Sony A |
| Type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 500mm | 135mm (wider) |
| Max aperture | f/4.0 | f/1.8 (faster) |
| Released | 2012 | 2006 |
| Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Groups | 10 | 9 |
| Af motor | SSM | screw-drive |
| Elements | 11 | 11 |
| Weight g | 3460 | 1050 (lighter) |
| Length mm | 367.5 | 115.0 |
| Min focus m | 4.0 | 0.72 (closer focusing) |
| Max magnification | 0.135 | 0.25 |
| Filter mm | n/a | 77 |
Sony 500mm F4 G SSM
A 500mm f/4 super-telephoto for A-mount with SSM autofocus. It weighs about 3,460 g, with a minimum focus distance of 4.0 m.
Pros
- f/4 aperture at 500mm
- SSM autofocus
- Full-frame coverage
- Quiet focusing
Cons
- Very heavy at about 3,460 g
- Minimum focus distance of 4.0 m
- Large and awkward to transport
Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z)
A Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 telephoto for A-mount, widely admired for portrait rendering. It uses body-driven screw-drive autofocus and is built heavy at about 1,050 g.
Pros
- Bright f/1.8 aperture at 135mm
- Famous for smooth, natural rendering
- Min focus 0.72 m
- Full-frame coverage
Cons
- Heavy at about 1,050 g
- Screw-drive AF is not as fast as SSM
- Slow to refocus in low light