The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF and the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro 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 180mm f3.5 LD Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 166mm. The Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF with a length of 144mm, is 22mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro also has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF'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 180mm f2.8D ED-IF weighs 760g, which means it is 160g (17%) lighter than the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro which has a weight of 920g.
Filter Threads
Both the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF and the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro have the same Filter thread size of 72mm.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF and the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro 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.
Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro is also available in Canon EF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
180mm but while Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF has the fastest aperture of
F2.8, the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro's widest aperture value is
F3.5.