The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D and the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS 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 PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D is the longer of the two lenses at 107mm. The Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS with a length of 106mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D's 83mm 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 PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D weighs 650g, which means it is 315g (32%) lighter than the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS which has a weight of 965g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Perspective Control Prime Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
PC Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D and the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS 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.
Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon PC-E Micro-85mm f2.8D 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 Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 121mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 181.5mm.
