The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR 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. Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD is the longer of the two lenses at 96mm. The Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR with a length of 75mm, is 21mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD 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, which means it is 186g (34%) lighter than the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD which has a weight of 540g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the SuperZoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Superzoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR 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 Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR 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 AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR is also available in the Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Pentax KAF mounts.
Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD is also available in Canon EF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron AF 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR has a focal range of 28-200mm and
7.1X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
42 - 300mm.
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.
