The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM and the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 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 70-200mm f2.8 LD is the longer of the two lenses at 194mm. The Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM with a length of 193mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 LD's 90mm 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 70-200mm f2.8 LD weighs 1330g, 16% (260g) lighter than the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM's weight of 1590g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM and the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 LD have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM and the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 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 70-200mm f2.8 LD is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sony Alpha and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM has a focal range of 100-400mm and
4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
160 - 640mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 LD has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112 - 320mm.