The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD and the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x 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 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x is the longer of the two lenses at 366mm. The Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD with a length of 227mm, is 139mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x also has a larger diameter of 128mm compared to the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD's 94mm 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 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD weighs 1237g, which means it is 2383g (65%) lighter than the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x which has a weight of 3620g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Super Telephoto Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD has a filter size of 86mm whereas the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x 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 86mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD and the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x 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 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD has a focal range of 200-500mm and
2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
320 - 800mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x has a focal range of 200-400mm and 2.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 320 - 640mm.