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 Macro 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 90mm F2.8 VC Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC with a length of 91mm, is 26mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro's 79mm 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 Macro weighs 609g, which means it is 91g (13%) lighter than the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC which has a weight of 700g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro has a filter size of 62mm 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 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 90mm F2.8 VC Macro and the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC 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 Macro is also available in Sony Alpha and Canon EF mounts.
Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC is also available in Sony Alpha and Canon EF mounts.
Focal Range
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.
On the other hand, the Tamron 85mm F1.8 VC 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.