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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II 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. Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II is the longer of the two lenses at 136mm. The Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD with a length of 117mm, is 19mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II also has a larger diameter of 83mm 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 315g (42%) lighter than the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II which has a weight of 750g.
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
Both the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD and the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II have the same Filter thread size of 62mm.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD and the Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II 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 Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) 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 Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II's widest aperture value is
F4.5 - F5.6.