The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 55-200mm f4.5-5.6 II USM 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. Canon 55-200mm f4.5-5.6 II USM is the longer of the two lenses at 97mm. The Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD with a length of 83mm, is 14mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a larger diameter of 72mm compared to the Canon 55-200mm f4.5-5.6 II USM's 70mm 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, 3% (10g) lighter than the Canon 55-200mm f4.5-5.6 II USM's weight of 310g.
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 Canon 55-200mm f4.5-5.6 II USM and the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD have the same Filter thread size of 52mm.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 55-200mm f4.5-5.6 II USM 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 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD is also available in Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
55-200mm but while Canon 55-200mm f4.5-5.6 II USM has the fastest aperture of
F4.5 - F5.6, the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD's widest aperture value is
F4.0 - F5.6.