The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 and the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 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. Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD is the longer of the two lenses at 197mm. The Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 with a length of 138mm, is 59mm shorter. On the other hand, the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 has a larger diameter of 101mm compared to the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD's 86mm 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. Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 weighs 1140g, which means it is 330g (22%) lighter than the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD which has a weight of 1470g.
Filter Threads
The Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 has a filter size of 86mm whereas the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 86mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 and the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD 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.
Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 is also available in Canon EF mount.
Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD is also available in Canon EF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Zeiss Otus 85mm F1.4 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
127.5mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 300mm.