The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 105mm f2D DC and the Nikon 85mm f1.8G 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 105mm f2D DC is the longer of the two lenses at 111mm. The Nikon 85mm f1.8G with a length of 73mm, is 38mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 85mm f1.8G has a larger diameter of 80mm compared to the Nikon 105mm f2D DC's 79mm 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. Nikon 85mm f1.8G weighs 350g, 45% (290g) lighter than the Nikon 105mm f2D DC's weight of 640g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon 105mm f2D DC has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Nikon 85mm f1.8G 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 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 105mm f2D DC:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 85mm f1.8G:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 105mm f2D DC and the Nikon 85mm f1.8G 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.
Focal Range
Nikon 105mm f2D DC is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 105mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
157.5mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 85mm f1.8G 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.