The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD and the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM 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. Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM is the longer of the two lenses at 343mm. The Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD with a length of 227mm, is 116mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM also has a larger diameter of 163mm compared to the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD's 94mm 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 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD weighs 1237g, which means it is 2613g (67%) lighter than the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM which has a weight of 3850g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD has a filter size of 86mm whereas the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 86mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD and the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K.
Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD is also available in the Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD has a focal range of 200-500mm and
2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
320 - 800mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 400mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 640mm.
