The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di and the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD 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 70-180mm F2.8 Di is the longer of the two lenses at 149mm. The Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD with a length of 117mm, is 32mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di also has a larger diameter of 81mm compared to the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD's 77mm 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 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD weighs 435g, 46% (380g) lighter than the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di's weight of 815g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD 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 70-180mm F2.8 Di:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD:
Lens Mounts
The Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD 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 AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di has a focal range of 70-180mm and
2.6X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
105 - 270mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD 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.
