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 Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS 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. Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS is the longer of the two lenses at 126mm. The Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD with a length of 83mm, is 43mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS also has a larger diameter of 77mm 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 310g (50%) lighter than the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS which has a weight of 610g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS has a 58mm 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 58mm filters that we recommend for the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD and the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58.
Tamron AF 55-200mm f4-5.6 II LD is also available in Canon EF and Nikon F (DX) mounts.
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Pentax KAF3 and Sigma SA 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
82.5-300mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS 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.