The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S 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 Z 85mm F1.8 S with a length of 99mm, is 18mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro also has a larger diameter of 79mm compared to the Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S's 75mm 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 Z 85mm F1.8 S weighs 470g, which means it is 139g (22%) lighter than the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro which has a weight of 609g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S has a filter size of 67mm 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro:
Lens Mounts
The Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S has the Nikon Z lens mount whereas the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount and Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount.
Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro is also available in Sony Alpha and Canon EF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 S 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.
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.
