The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC USD Macro and the Nikon 105mm f2D DC 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 USD Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 115mm. The Nikon 105mm f2D DC with a length of 111mm, is 4mm shorter. On the other hand, the Nikon 105mm f2D DC has a larger diameter of 79mm compared to the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC USD Macro's 76mm 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 USD Macro weighs 550g, which means it is 90g (14%) lighter than the Nikon 105mm f2D DC which has a weight of 640g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC USD Macro has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Nikon 105mm f2D DC 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 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC USD Macro:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 105mm f2D DC:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC USD Macro and the Nikon 105mm f2D DC 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 USD Macro is also available in the Canon EF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC USD 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.
On the other hand, the Nikon 105mm f2D DC 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.
