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Tamron 150-600 vs Nikon 200-500mm
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Nov 25, 2021 09:49:20   #
grandpaw
 
I have a Tamron 150-600G1 version and they have the Nikon 200-500mm on Black Friday sale and I am tempted to purchase the Nikon. How much difference would the quality of my images be by moving to the Nikon? Is it worth the upgrade?

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Nov 25, 2021 10:10:12   #
kpmac Loc: Ragley, La
 
I would say probably. I would compare it to the Tamron 150-600 G2, though.

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Nov 25, 2021 10:14:42   #
Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx
 
I have both the Tamron 150-600mm G2 and the Nikon 200-500mm. I have tested them side by side on both a D850 and D500. Both are sharp in the center, but sharpness drops off more quickly towards the corners on the Tamron and the Nikon is sharper in the corners. AF is a bit better with the Nikon, less hunting and I get more keepers. The Tamron is not as heavy as the Nikon and both are about the same physical size. To me, focus breathing is an issue with the Tamron. You can use a 1.4x Tele converter with the Nikon, which takes it to an F/8 lens so AF still works with center of the frame AF sensors, but AF is slower at f/8 as one would expect with less light getting to the sensors. It doesn’t make sense to use a 1.4x with the Tamron as it gets to f/8 around 330mm zoom factor. I bought an after market Arca Swiss foot for the Nikon, which was about $70.

Since getting the Nikon, the Tamron is sitting collecting dust.

You can Google a lot of good professional reviews comparing those lenses as well as the Sigma sport and contemporary.

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Nov 25, 2021 10:15:24   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Tamron - https://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=19903

Comparison -
https://photographylife.com/nikon-200-500mm-vs-tamron-150-600mm-vs-sigma-150-600mm-c
https://davemclelland.com/lens_comparisons/nikon-200-500mm-vs-tamron-150-600mm-g2/
https://versus.com/en/nikon-af-s-nikkor-200-500mm-f5-6e-ed-vr-vs-tamron-sp-150-600mm-f5-6-3-di-vc-usd-g2
https://www.bestcanonflash.com/nikon-200-500-vs-tamron-150-600/

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Nov 25, 2021 10:24:06   #
jpwa Loc: Inland NorthWest
 
I had the Tamron 150-600G1 and sold it and got the Nikon 200-500. IMO the Nikon is much better, faster acquiring focus and overall better picture quality. These are pics I took last week. These are SOC....no post processing.


(Download)


(Download)

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Nov 25, 2021 12:16:36   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
grandpaw wrote:
I have a Tamron 150-600G1 version and they have the Nikon 200-500mm on Black Friday sale and I am tempted to purchase the Nikon. How much difference would the quality of my images be by moving to the Nikon? Is it worth the upgrade?


The Nikon is probably sharper, has better OS and faster, more accurate AF. But if you intend to use the Nikon with a TC to get some more focal length, then the G1 is going to be better, but mostly on paper.

However . . .

The Tamron 150-600 G2 is considerably better than the G1, and measurably better than the Nikon, has better build quality, environmental sealing, slightly lighter. I found it to be as sharp as a Sigma Sport @600, and that was close enough to my 600mmF4 to be virtually indistinguishable from it.

This should help inform your opinion better than anecdotal comments from fan boys and girls who love what they bought, but haven't really experienced the alternatives.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr

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Nov 25, 2021 12:23:08   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
I have experienced the alternatives Twice! And the experiences told me the Nikon beats the pants off the Tamron all week long! And wait for it...thrice on Sunday.

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Nov 25, 2021 12:32:34   #
grandpaw
 
Gene51 wrote:
The Nikon is probably sharper, has better OS and faster, more accurate AF. But if you intend to use the Nikon with a TC to get some more focal length, then the G1 is going to be better, but mostly on paper.

However . . .

The Tamron 150-600 G2 is considerably better than the G1, and measurably better than the Nikon, has better build quality, environmental sealing, slightly lighter. I found it to be as sharp as a Sigma Sport @600, and that was close enough to my 600mmF4 to be virtually indistinguishable from it.

This should help inform your opinion better than anecdotal comments from fan boys and girls who love what they bought, but haven't really experienced the alternatives.

Just so everyone knows, I am asking here for information and thoughts in addition to all the videos and other research I do when I ask for thoughts by our members.This is just one part of my research when considering a purchase.

..https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr
The Nikon is probably sharper, has better OS and f... (show quote)

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Nov 26, 2021 06:46:18   #
DaveO Loc: Northeast CT
 
I have both and after thousands of shots I feel that they are quite hard to tell apart as far as pics, but the Nikon typically focuses quicker. TC’s are marginal and I rarely use them. The Nikon will be my keeper

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Nov 26, 2021 08:12:03   #
FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA
 

Jerry, thanks for posting these links. Very informative. I have the Tamron 150-600 G2 but because of all my heatlh issues, it jsut sits in a corner collecting dust. I think I have used it 3 times. But the same thing would happen if I had the Nikon 200-500 - it would never get used.

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Nov 26, 2021 08:32:24   #
Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio
 
Screw it and buy a 300-800mm f5.6 Sigmonster. Put it on a gimbal head on a gitzo series 5 systematic tripod and be done with the reach thing. Lol lol. At 12.6lbs you can also cancel your gym membership. I do love mine though and gave had all the lenses mentioned here. I think the Tamron G2 with the dock is the best option other than the sigma.

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Nov 26, 2021 08:52:37   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
Gene51 wrote:
The Nikon is probably sharper, has better OS and faster, more accurate AF. But if you intend to use the Nikon with a TC to get some more focal length, then the G1 is going to be better, but mostly on paper.

However . . .

The Tamron 150-600 G2 is considerably better than the G1, and measurably better than the Nikon, has better build quality, environmental sealing, slightly lighter. I found it to be as sharp as a Sigma Sport @600, and that was close enough to my 600mmF4 to be virtually indistinguishable from it.

This should help inform your opinion better than anecdotal comments from fan boys and girls who love what they bought, but haven't really experienced the alternatives.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr
The Nikon is probably sharper, has better OS and f... (show quote)



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Nov 26, 2021 11:14:00   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
grandpaw wrote:
I have a Tamron 150-600G1 version and they have the Nikon 200-500mm on Black Friday sale and I am tempted to purchase the Nikon. How much difference would the quality of my images be by moving to the Nikon? Is it worth the upgrade?


I just got another 200-500 after selling my first version last summer. The sharpness at 500 is measurably better than the Tamron.
In addition, the Nikon 200-500 has an electronic aperture, this insures all exposures are the same when shooting at a high frame per second rate. My Nikon D500 can shoot at 10 fps. and all exposures are the same, that cannot be said for the Tamron.
In addition, the Nikon is f5.6 throughout it's zoom range, that is a NO for the Tamron.
In addition, the Nikon is SHARPER throughout it's zoom range than the Tamron, especially at the 500mm setting, which is what you will be using on wildlife most of the time.
If this is not enough to convince you, it's a Nikon, and, it gets better reviews than the Tamron. You can see them for yourself on line or B&H.
And lastly, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, it won't be on sale for ever.
Oh, one last thing, you can get the Nikon for 1,096.95 from B&H during the sale, my older 200-500 sold for 1,000.00 (I also got that one on sale for 1,100) after I used it for three years. You will not get that kind of resale on the Tamron.
So, once again I have to ask, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR. Unless your just posting to post, in that case, NEVER MIND.

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Nov 26, 2021 11:16:58   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
Gene51 wrote:
The Nikon is probably sharper, has better OS and faster, more accurate AF. But if you intend to use the Nikon with a TC to get some more focal length, then the G1 is going to be better, but mostly on paper.

However . . .

The Tamron 150-600 G2 is considerably better than the G1, and measurably better than the Nikon, has better build quality, environmental sealing, slightly lighter. I found it to be as sharp as a Sigma Sport @600, and that was close enough to my 600mmF4 to be virtually indistinguishable from it.

This should help inform your opinion better than anecdotal comments from fan boys and girls who love what they bought, but haven't really experienced the alternatives.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr
The Nikon is probably sharper, has better OS and f... (show quote)



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Nov 26, 2021 11:47:04   #
Nicholas J DeSciose
 
The Nikon is a considerably better lens optically. Also the auto focus is considerably faster

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