In this review, we will be comparing Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD, two Telephoto Zoom lenses from Sony and Tamron. Both lenses have the same focal range of 70-300mm but different max apertures: Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II has a max aperture of F4.5 - F5.6 while the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD has a max aperture of F4.0 - F5.6.
We will start with briefly looking and the main specs of these two lenses and in the section, we will start analyzing in more detail and list the pros and cons of each lenses.
What type of photography are the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD lenses good for?
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 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
| Photography Type |
Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II |
Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD |
| Bird/Wildlife | Good | Good |
| Sports | Good | Good |
| Portrait | Average | Average |
| Travel | Fair | Fair |
| Street | Fair | Fair |
| Wedding | Average | Average |
| Walk Around | Average | Average |
| Vlogging | Poor | Poor |
| Landscape | Average | Average |
| Macro | Average | Average |
Size and Weight Comparison
Size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses.Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD is the longer of the two lenses at 143mm. The Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II with a length of 136mm is 7mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD's 82mm diameter.
Weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II weighs 750g, which means it is 15g (1%) lighter than the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD which has a weight of 765g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the 'Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 USD 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.
Focal Range