The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD and the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D 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 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR is the longer of the two lenses at 171mm. The Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD with a length of 143mm, is 28mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR also has a larger diameter of 91mm compared to the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD's 82mm 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 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD weighs 765g, which means it is 575g (42%) lighter than the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR which has a weight of 1340g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR has a 77mm 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 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD and the Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D 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 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD is also available in the Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD 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 Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR has a focal range of 80-400mm and 5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 120 - 600mm.
