The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR and the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 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. Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 268mm. The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 70mm, is 198mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR also has a larger diameter of 108mm compared to the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6's 72mm 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 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 weighs 237g, 89% (2063g) lighter than the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR's weight of 2300g.
Filter Threads
The Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR has a filter size of 95mm whereas the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 95mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR and the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in Canon EF , Sony Alpha and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR has a focal range of 200-500mm and
2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
300 - 750mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has a focal range of 28-80mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 42 - 120mm.