Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM § 03 Head to head
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM vs Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM
Zeiss 85mm f/4 has a wider field of view. Voigtlander 90mm f/4 has a longer reach.
Both lenses are made for the Leica M mount: the Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM is an 85mm f/4 prime, and the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM is a 90mm f/4 prime. On paper the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM comes out ahead, 5 advantages to 1, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM 
Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM 01
Key differences
Why is the Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM better than the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM?
- Wider field of view (85mm vs 90mm)
Why is the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM better than the Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM?
- Longer reach (90mm vs 85mm)
- 75 g lighter (235 g vs 310 g)
- 17 mm shorter (53 mm vs 70 mm long)
- Focuses 40 cm closer (0.5 m vs 0.9 m)
- Newer design (2026 vs 2008)
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Which should you buy?
- portrait For portrait photography, the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM has the edge: it is 75 g lighter to carry.
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Specification
| Specification | Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM | Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 85mm | 90mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Lens type | Prime lens | Prime lens |
| Format | Full frame | Full frame |
| Weight | 310 g (10.93 oz) | 235 g ◆ |
| Dimensions | 54 x 70 mm | 54.8 x 53 mm |
| Minimum focusing distance | 0.9 m (35.43 inches) | 0.5 m ◆ |
| Image stabilization | — | No |
| Aperture ring | — | Yes |
| Aperture blades | 10 | 10 |
| Optical construction | 5 elements in 3 groups | 8 elements / 7 groups |
| Filter size | 43 mm | 43 mm |
| Lens mount | Leica M | Leica M |
| Released | 2008 | 2026 |
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Size
- A · Carl
- B · Voigtlander
- 70 × 54 mm
- 53 × 54.8 mm
The Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM is 17 mm longer and 75 g heavier than the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM.
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Sample frames
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM
Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM
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Video reviews
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Questions
- Which is lighter, the Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM or the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM?
- The Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM weighs 235 g, 75 g less than the Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM (310 g).
- Which focuses closer, the Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM or the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM?
- The Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM focuses down to 0.5 m, against 0.9 m for the Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM.
- Is the Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 85 mm f/4 ZM or the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM better for portrait photography?
- For portrait photography, the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 90 mm f/4 Close Focus VM has the edge: it is 75 g lighter to carry.
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