Tamron
200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha
 vs
Sony
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha
Significantly narrower aperture f/32 vs f/22
Help
 At its narrowest, the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha goes 1.1 f-stops narrower
Better telephoto 500 mm vs 400 mm
Help
 Around 30% more reach, less perspective distortion
Cheaper $949.00 vs $1,798.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $849 cheaper (around 50% less)
Slightly lighter 1.2 kg vs 1.6 kg
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha Learn more about
the Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha

Reasons to consider the Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Has a silent focus motor Sony SSM vs None
Help
 Focuses quickly and silently
Significantly better wide angle 70 mm vs 200 mm
Help
 2.9x better wide angle
More zoom 5.7x vs 2.5x
Help
 Around 2.5x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Wider aperture f/4 vs f/5
Help
 At its widest, the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM captures marginally more light, 0.6 f-stops
Shorter 196 mm vs 227 mm
Help
 More than 10% shorter
Slightly more magnification 1:3.7 (0.3x) vs 1:5 (0.2x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects around 40% larger in your photo
Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Learn more about
the Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Max focal length Excellent telephoto Help
200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha:500 mm
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:400 mm
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha:f/5
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:f/4
Length Quite long Help
200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha:227 mm
70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM:196 mm
Fixed aperture Both are variable aperture lenses Help
Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

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

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

Wildlife lens

$1,699
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Compare the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha
Compare the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Wildlife lens

$1,499
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Compare the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha
Compare the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Sony-alpha

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

Wildlife lens

$999
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Min focal length Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
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 Sony-alpha
Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Sony-alpha vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$7,999
Max focal length Has a much shorter telephoto lens
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Min focal length Has a much narrower wide angle lens
Compare the 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Canon-ef vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha
Compare the 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Canon-ef vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM

Sports lens

$1,998
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Max focal length Has a significantly longer telephoto lens
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha

Wildlife lens

$449
Max focal length Has a slightly longer telephoto lens
Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha
Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD Sony-alpha vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f

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

Wildlife lens

$1,019
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Min focal length Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
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 Sony-alpha
Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Nikon-f

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Nikon-f

Sports lens

$2,499
Aperture Much wider aperture
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Weight Significantly heavier
Compare the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM Nikon-f vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG HSM APO Pentax-k

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG HSM APO Pentax-k

Wildlife lens
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Min focal length Better wide angle
Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG HSM APO Pentax-k vs the 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF Sony-alpha

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

Advantages

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

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

Wildlife lens

$1,509
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Zoom range Significantly more zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sony SAL 500mm f/4 G

Sony SAL 500mm f/4 G

Wildlife lens

$13,000
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Max focal length Better telephoto
Lowest price Much more expensive
Min focal length Much worse wide angle
Compare the SAL 500mm f/4 G vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Nikon-f

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Nikon-f

Sports lens

$1,249
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

Wildlife lens

$998
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Length Shorter
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Nikon-f

Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Nikon-f

Sports lens

$769
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Max focal length Significantly worse telephoto
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Nikon-f vs the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

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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