The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ and the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC 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 85mm F1.8 VC is the longer of the two lenses at 91mm. The Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ with a length of 73mm, is 18mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC also has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ's 82mm 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. Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ weighs 560g, which means it is 140g (19%) lighter than the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC which has a weight of 700g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Prime Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC 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 Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ and the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC is also available in Canon EF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
85mm but while Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ has the fastest aperture of
F1.4, the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC's widest aperture value is
F1.8.