The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD and the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR 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. Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR is the longer of the two lenses at 144mm. The Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD with a length of 117mm, is 27mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR also has a larger diameter of 80mm 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, which means it is 310g (41%) lighter than the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR which has a weight of 745g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR 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 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD and the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD is also available in Canon EF , Sony Alpha and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
70-300mm but while Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD has the fastest aperture of
F4.0 - F5.6, the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR's widest aperture value is
F4.5 - F5.6.