The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III and the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR 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 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR with a length of 75mm, is 42mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III also has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR's 71mm 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 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR weighs 354g, 38% (222g) lighter than the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III's weight of 576g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR:
Lens Mounts
The Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR has the Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR for the Sony E Mount and Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount.
Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
28-200mm but while Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III has the fastest aperture of
F2.8-5.6, the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR's widest aperture value is
F3.8 - F5.6.