Tamron 150 600 vs Nikon 200 500: Which One Should You Choose?
Tamron 150 600 and Nikon 200 500 are both very popular super telephoto lenses. These lenses are tailored to work with Nikon DSLRs and have been compared to each other frequently because of their similar uses. Moreover, they share some aspects in build and performance.
Well, besides one being a third-party lens and the other made by the manufacturer, these lenses perform just about the same. They are great telephoto lenses designed to be mounted on Nikon DSLR cameras. With this debate, many have come to the conclusion that Nikon is slightly sharper and Tamron has modestly faster autofocus. You need to choose the strength you want to work with. However, many photographers tend to gravitate towards the sharper lens.
This article digs deeper on the same and offers you a thorough comparative review of the lenses.
Tamron 150 600 vs Nikon 200 500
Just like all comparisons, each of these lenses has advantages over the other. It is even more interesting for these two as they are both manufactured for Nikon DSLR cameras.
With some experience in photography with these lenses, you will eventually realize that they seem very close. The differences are bound to change from shot to shot. Here is a side-by-side comparison.
Comparison Table
Features | Tamron 150 600 | Nikon 200 500 |
Focal range | 150-600mm | 200-500mm |
Filter size | 95mm | 95mm |
Diameter | 4.27 inches | 4.25 inches |
Length | 10.24 inches | 10.53 inches |
Weight | 4.42lbs | 4.6lbs |
Maximum magnification | 0.26x | 0.22x |
Maximum aperture | f/5 | f/5.6 |
Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Tamron 150 600 Overview
Tamron is a brand that focuses on the manufacture of third-party lenses for other manufacturers such as Sony, Canon, and Nikon. The manufacturers reverse engineer their lenses so they can be compatible with different cameras.
The Tamron 150 600 is among their best-selling telephoto lenses with a comparatively better build. It comes weather sealed and has an integrated Arca-Swiss mount in the tripod foot. It is also smaller and lighter in weight. Moreover, Tamron 150 600 offers more zoom range.
Pros
- It is weatherproof
- It comes with an integrated Arca Swiss mount on a tripod foot
- It is smaller and lighter
- This lens comes with improved autofocus and stabilization
Cons
- It lacks sharpness at shorter zoom settings
Nikon 200 500 Overview
Nikon fans vouch for these lenses, and for a good reason. Being a genuine Nikon brand, you need not worry about the possibility of the lens not working on future bodies. This lens is razor sharp at 500mm and near the minimum focusing distance.
Therefore, this lens is best suited for Birds/wildlife and sports. It would not do well in travel and street photography.
Pros
- It is a genuine Nikon brand
- It features a constant f/5.6 aperture
- This lens is comparatively sharper
Cons
- It is relatively heavier
Features Compared
Size and weight comparison
When comparing two lenses, the size and weight are important determining factors. The Nikon 200 500 is the longer one of the two at 268mm. Tamron 150 600 comes in at 258mm making it 10mm shorter.
Besides being longer, Nikon 200 500 also has a larger diameter of 108mm compared to the 106mm of the Tamron 150 600. Weight is an important consideration for those who will be hand-holding their cameras for a long time. The Tamron lens weighs 2010g while Nikon weighs 2300g.
Focal range
The Tamron lens has a focal range of 150-600mm and 4.0x zoom ratio. When this lens is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera, it provides a 35mm equivalent of 225-900mm.
Meanwhile, Nikon 200 500 has a focal range of 200 to 500mm and a 2.5x zoom ratio. Mounting it on an APS-C sensor gives a 35mm equivalent of 300-750mm. It is important to note that Nikon has a constant aperture of f/5.6 while Tamron has a variable aperture of f/5-6.3
Lens mount
Both Tamron 150 600 and Nikon 200 500 come with the same Nikon F lens mount. They are designed to be mounted on Nikon DSLR cameras.
Final Verdict
To choose one of the two is a tough decision. These lenses prove to have equal strengths, and any difference tends to change from shot to shot. Therefore, it is difficult to identify particular strengths that may tell them apart, or make one more outstanding.
However, as far as differences are concerned, the main one between the two is that Nikon 200 500 is a genuine Nikon brand.
So if that is anything to go by, that is you would like to stick to the brand, then you can go for their lens. Tamron 150 600 is generally manufactured for different brands from Sony, Canon, to Nikon.
FAQs
What are the differences between fixed and variable apertures?
You may notice that lenses come with either constant or variable apertures. Well, fixed apertures are sharper and faster, but come at a costlier price than the variable apertures.
Is the Tamron 150 600 worth it?
The Tamron 150 600 is an excellent telephoto lens by all standards. You can count on it to produce decent captured results. Moreover, it is versatile for capturing a variety of scenarios including moving subjects from a long distance.
Conclusion
If you are a wildlife or sports photographer and are looking for a powerful telephoto zoom lens, Tamron 150 600 and Nikon 200 500 lenses are right at the top. It is almost impossible to decide which one is better of the two.
However, this article has tried to highlight some of their differences and individual strengths to help you make a better choice.
You Can Also Read:
- Nikon FtZ vs FtZ II
- Nikon 200 500 vs Sigma 150 600
- Sigma 150 600 vs Sony 200 600
- Can you use Nikon Lenses on Sony
- Can You use Nikon Lenses on Canon
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