The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC and the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II 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 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II is the longer of the two lenses at 196mm. The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC with a length of 183mm, is 13mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II also has a larger diameter of 95mm compared to the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC's 89mm 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 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC weighs 1155g, which means it is 345g (23%) lighter than the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II which has a weight of 1500g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II:
Lens Mounts
The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II has the Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount and Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount.
Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC is also available in the Nikon Z mount.
Focal Range
Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has a focal range of 50-400mm and
8.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II has a focal range of 70-400mm and 5.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 105 - 600mm.
