The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR and the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro 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. Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR is the longer of the two lenses at 203mm. The Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro with a length of 166mm, is 37mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR also has a larger diameter of 124mm compared to the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro's 85mm 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. Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro weighs 920g, 68% (1980g) lighter than the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR's weight of 2900g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR and the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro is also available in Canon EF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon 200mm f2G ED-IF VR is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 200mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
300mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 180mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 270mm.