The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 and the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED 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 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 268mm. The Tamron SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 with a length of 194mm, is 74mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR also has a larger diameter of 108mm compared to the Tamron SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2's 88mm 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 SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 weighs 1500g, which means it is 800g (34%) lighter than the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR which has a weight of 2300g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR has a 95mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2:
And these are the 95mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 and the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED 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 SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 is also available in Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Tamron SP 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 has a focal range of 70-200mm and
2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
105 - 300mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR has a focal range of 200-500mm and 2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 300 - 750mm.