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 Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR 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. Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD is the longer of the two lenses at 227mm. The Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II with a length of 209mm, is 18mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD also has a larger diameter of 94mm compared to the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II's 87mm 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 303g (19%) lighter than the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II which has a weight of 1540g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD has a filter size of 86mm whereas the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II 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 86mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD and the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II 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 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD is also available in Canon EF 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 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
300 - 750mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II 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.