The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II and the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD 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. Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II is the longer of the two lenses at 136mm. The Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD with a length of 96mm, is 40mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD's 74mm 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 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD weighs 540g, 28% (210g) lighter than the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II's weight of 750g.
Filter Threads
The Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II and the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD is also available in Canon EF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II has a focal range of 70-300mm and
4.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
105 - 450mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD has a focal range of 28-300mm and 10.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 42 - 450mm.
