The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM and the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD 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. Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM is the longer of the two lenses at 111mm. The Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD with a length of 83mm, is 28mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a larger diameter of 72mm compared to the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM's 70mm 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 AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD weighs 300g, 19% (75g) lighter than the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM's weight of 375g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF Mount.
Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD is also available in Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM has a focal range of 55-250mm and
4.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
88-400mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a focal range of 55-200mm and 3.6X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 88-320mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.