The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD and the Canon 70-200mm f4.0L USM 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. Canon 70-200mm f4.0L USM is the longer of the two lenses at 172mm. The Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD with a length of 83mm, is 89mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 70-200mm f4.0L USM also has a larger diameter of 76mm compared to the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD's 72mm 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 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD weighs 300g, which means it is 405g (57%) lighter than the Canon 70-200mm f4.0L USM which has a weight of 705g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Canon 70-200mm f4.0L USM 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 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 70-200mm f4.0L USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD and the Canon 70-200mm f4.0L USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3.
Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD is also available in Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a focal range of 55-200mm and
3.6X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
88-320mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 70-200mm f4.0L USM has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112 - 320mm.