The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 105mm F1.4 and the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC 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 90mm F2.8 VC Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The Nikon 105mm F1.4 with a length of 106mm, is 11mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 105mm F1.4 has a larger diameter of 95mm compared to the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro'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. Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro weighs 609g, 38% (376g) lighter than the Nikon 105mm F1.4's weight of 985g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 105mm F1.4 has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 105mm F1.4:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 105mm F1.4 and the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC 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 90mm F2.8 VC Macro is also available in Sony Alpha and Canon EF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon 105mm F1.4 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 Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 90mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 135mm.