The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM 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. Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 102mm. The Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD with a length of 83mm, is 19mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM also has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD's 72mm 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, 28% (120g) lighter than the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM's weight of 420g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM has a filter size of 55mm 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 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM and the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3.
Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM is also available in Pentax KAF3 , Sony Alpha, Sigma SA and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD is also available in Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM has a focal range of 50-200mm and
4.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
80-320mm 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.