The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro and the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF 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 180mm f3.5 LD Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 166mm. The Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF with a length of 144mm, is 22mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro also has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF'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. Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF weighs 760g, 17% (160g) lighter than the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro's weight of 920g.
Filter Threads
Both the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro and the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF have the same Filter thread size of 72mm.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro and the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF 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 180mm f3.5 LD Macro is also available in Canon EF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
180mm but while Tamron 180mm f3.5 LD Macro has the fastest aperture of
F3.5, the Nikon 180mm f2.8D ED-IF's widest aperture value is
F2.8.