Tamron
55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha
 vs
Sony
70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Tamron 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha
Significantly shorter 83 mm vs 197 mm
Help
 2.4x shorter
Lighter 300 g vs 1.4 kg
Help
 4.5x lighter
Cheaper $199.00 vs $1,998.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,799 cheaper (10x less)
Slightly more magnification 1:3.5 (0.3x) vs 1:4.7 (0.2x)
Help
 Take macro shots with subjects more than 30% larger in your photo
Slightly more zoom 3.6x vs 2.9x
Help
 Around 30% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Slightly better wide angle 55 mm vs 70 mm
Help
 More than 20% better wide angle
Slightly smaller diameter 72 mm vs 87 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller lens at the end
Tamron 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha Learn more about
the Tamron 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha

Reasons to consider the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM
Has a consant aperture Yes vs No
Help
 Constant aperture lenses offer the same aperture at all focal lengths
Has a silent focus motor Sony SSM vs None
Help
 Focuses quickly and silently
Wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/4
Help
 At its widest, the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM captures slightly more light, 1 f-stop
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM Learn more about
the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide maximum Wide aperture Help
f/32
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses

Compared to telephoto lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Min focal length Good wide-angle Help
55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha:55 mm
70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM:70 mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

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

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

Wildlife lens

$998
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Length Is longer
Compare the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM vs the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha
Compare the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM
Sony D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6

Sony D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6

Wildlife lens

$248
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 vs the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha
Compare the D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM

Tamron 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sigma 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha

Sigma 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha

Wildlife lens

$159
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Wide maximum Much wider aperture
Magnification Slightly less magnification
Compare the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha vs the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f

Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f

Macro lens

$199
Magnification More magnification
Max focal length Better telephoto
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Length Longer
Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f vs the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha
Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II PZD VC Sony-alpha

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II PZD VC Sony-alpha

Travel lens

$449
Zoom range Much more zoom
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Weight Slightly heavier
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II PZD VC Sony-alpha vs the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Macro Sony-alpha

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Macro Sony-alpha

Travel lens

$199
Zoom range Much more zoom
Aperture Wider aperture
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Compare the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Macro Sony-alpha vs the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha
Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT

Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT

Wide angle lens

$218
Aperture Wider aperture
Min focal length Better wide angle
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Max focal length Worse telephoto
Compare the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT vs the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di-II LD Sony-alpha

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM Competitors

Advantages

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

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

Wildlife lens

$1,998
Max focal length Significantly better telephoto
Zoom range More zoom
Fixed aperture Has a variable aperture
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Compare the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Sports lens

$2,499
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Sony-alpha

Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Sony-alpha

Sports lens

$769
Lowest price Cheaper
Magnification More magnification
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro Sony-alpha vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM
Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8 *

Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8 *

Sports lens

$1,798
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Aperture Wider aperture
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Compare the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8 * vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM
Nikon Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

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

Sports lens

$2,397
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Wide maximum Significantly wider aperture
Magnification Less magnification
Compare the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II vs the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO G SSM

discussion Which do you think is better?

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