The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro and the Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 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. Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 is the longer of the two lenses at 90mm. The Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro with a length of 81mm, is 9mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 also has a larger diameter of 57mm compared to the Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro's 53mm 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. Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro weighs 289g, which means it is 211g (42%) lighter than the Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 which has a weight of 500g.
Filter Threads
The Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 has a 49mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2:
Lens Mounts
Both the Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro and the Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 has the same Leica M lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Leica M lenses are Leica M11 Monochrome, Leica M11 and Leica M10.
Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro is also available in Sony E , Canon RF, Nikon Z and Leica L mounts.
Focal Range
Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm.
On the other hand, the Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 90mm.