The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 and the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 is the longer of the two lenses at 113mm. The Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC with a length of 91mm, is 22mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100's 76mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 weighs 680g, which means it is 20g (2%) lighter than the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC which has a weight of 700g.
Filter Threads
Both the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 and the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC have the same Filter thread size of 67mm.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 and the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 is also available in Pentax KAF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC is also available in Sony Alpha and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T2/100 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
160mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 136mm.