The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD and the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ 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 AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD is the longer of the two lenses at 83mm. The Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ with a length of 73mm, is 10mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ has a larger diameter of 82mm compared to the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD's 72mm 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 AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD weighs 300g, which means it is 260g (46%) lighter than the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ which has a weight of 560g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ 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 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD and the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58.
Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD is also available in the Canon EF and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a focal range of 55-200mm and
3.6X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
82.5-300mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sony 85mm F1.4 ZA CZ 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.
