The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 and the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR 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 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 is the longer of the two lenses at 90mm. The Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR with a length of 75mm, is 15mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 also has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR's 71mm 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 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR weighs 354g, 28% (141g) lighter than the Canon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6's weight of 495g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the SuperZoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Superzoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 and the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR 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 AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sony Alpha and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
28-200mm but while Canon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 has the fastest aperture of
F3.5 - F5.6, the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR's widest aperture value is
F3.8 - F5.6.