Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f vs Nikon VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

differences

Reasons to consider the Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Better telephoto

500 mm

400 mm

Around 30% more reach, less perspective distortion

Slightly cheaper

$949.00

$1,499.00

The best price we've seen is $550 cheaper (around 40% less)

Learn more about
the Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Reasons to consider the Nikon VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Image stabilization

Nikon VR

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Better wide angle

80 mm

200 mm

2.5x better wide angle

More zoom

2.5x

2x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos

Shorter

170 mm

227 mm

Around 30% shorter

Wider aperture

f/4.5

f/5

At its widest, the VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED captures marginally more light, 0.3 f-stops

Learn more about
the Nikon VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Excellent telephoto

200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f:	500 mm
VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED:	400 mm

	Wide aperture
	f/32

Very narrow widest aperture size

200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f:	f/5
VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED:	f/4.5

	Both are zoom lenses
	Typically not as sharp as prime lenses

	No silent focus motor
	Louder and slower

	Both are variable aperture lenses
	Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

Quite long

200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f:	227 mm
VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED:	170 mm

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths	Common Weaknesses
LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.	LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$1,019

Has a silent focus motor

Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens

Has a lower max f/stop

Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$1,509

Has a silent focus motor

Has much large zoom range

Has a lower max f/stop

Is longer

Compare the 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Compare the 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Nikon Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED

Wildlife lens

$587

Has a silent focus motor

Has a slightly longer telephoto lens

Compare the Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Compare the Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED vs the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

Wildlife lens

$1,798

Has a silent focus motor

Has a lower max f/stop

Compare the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Compare the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM vs the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Wildlife lens

$1,699

Has a silent focus motor

Compare the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Compare the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM vs the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Travel lens

$1,047

Has a slightly wider wide angle lens

Has a wider aperture

Has a slightly longer telephoto lens

Has a lower max f/stop

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR vs the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Tokina AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$499

Compare the AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Compare the AT-X 840 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 D Nikon-f vs the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF Nikon-f

Sports lens

$28,999

Much wider aperture

Has a consant aperture

Much more expensive

Much heavier

Compare the 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF Nikon-f vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Sony-alpha

Wildlife lens

$999

Has a silent focus motor

Image stabilization

Significantly wider aperture

Heavier

Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Sony-alpha vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 600mm f/4G ED VR

Wildlife lens

$9,199

Image stabilization

Has a silent focus motor

Much worse wide angle

Much more expensive

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 600mm f/4G ED VR vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Sports lens

$2,397

Has a consant aperture

Has a silent focus motor

Significantly worse telephoto

Significantly wider aperture

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II vs the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

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Tamron
200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f
vs
Nikon Nikkor
VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

differences

Reasons to consider the Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Nikon-f

Reasons to consider the Nikon VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED