The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Rokinon 35mm f1.4 and the Tamron 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD 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. Rokinon 35mm f1.4 is the longer of the two lenses at 112mm. The Tamron 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD with a length of 81mm, is 31mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tamron 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD has a larger diameter of 80mm compared to the Rokinon 35mm f1.4's 63mm 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 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD weighs 480g, 27% (180g) lighter than the Rokinon 35mm f1.4's weight of 660g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Wideangle Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Rokinon 35mm f1.4 has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Tamron 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Rokinon 35mm f1.4:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Rokinon 35mm f1.4 and the Tamron 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD 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.
Rokinon 35mm f1.4 is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Four Thirds, Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Samsung NX mounts.
Tamron 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
35mm but while Rokinon 35mm f1.4 has the fastest aperture of
F1.4, the Tamron 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD's widest aperture value is
F1.8.