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 Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF 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 AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF with a length of 99mm, is 18mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF 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 295g (40%) lighter than the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF which has a weight of 730g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF has a 72mm 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 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD and the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF 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 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD is also available in the Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
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.
On the other hand, the Sony 135mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 135mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 202.5mm.
