The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II and the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD 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 VC USD is the longer of the two lenses at 197mm. The Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II with a length of 79mm, is 118mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD also has a larger diameter of 86mm compared to the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II's 69mm 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. Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II weighs 250g, which means it is 1220g (82%) lighter than the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD which has a weight of 1470g.
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
The Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II and the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD 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 VC USD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II has a focal range of 80-200mm 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
128 - 320mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC USD 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.