The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro and the Tamron 45mm 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. Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 115mm. The Tamron 45mm F1.8 Di VC USD with a length of 92mm, is 23mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Tamron 45mm F1.8 Di VC USD's 80mm 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 45mm F1.8 Di VC USD weighs 540g, 42% (405g) lighter than the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro's weight of 945g.
Filter Threads
The Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Tamron 45mm 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 Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 45mm F1.8 Di VC USD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro and the Tamron 45mm 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.
Tamron 45mm F1.8 Di VC USD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
80mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 45mm F1.8 Di VC USD is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 45mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 72mm.