The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD and the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 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. Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD is the longer of the two lenses at 143mm. The Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD with a length of 117mm, is 26mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD also has a larger diameter of 82mm compared to the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD's 77mm 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 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD weighs 435g, 43% (330g) lighter than the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD's weight of 765g.
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
Both the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD and the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD have the same Filter thread size of 62mm.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD and the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sony Alpha and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
70-300mm and the fastest aperture of
F4.0 - F5.6.