AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VRvs Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD
Nikon
AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR (2012)
Starting from £849 new
Best for Wildlife, sports & portrait telephoto
View AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR
VS
Tamron
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (2020)
Starting from £749 new
Best for Portraits, weddings & outdoor sports
View Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Sports & Portrait Telephoto — AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR (2012): The sensible telephoto choice for Nikon DSLR shooters — weather-sealed, VR-equipped, and optically superb at a fraction of the f/2.8 price.
Portraits, Weddings & Outdoor Sports — Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (2020): The lightest f/2.8 telephoto zoom for Sony FE — 70-180mm coverage with VXD AF and weather sealing at significantly less than Sony's 70-200mm GM II.
Who should buy what
Quick take: The tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 di iii vxd is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR (2012) | Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £849 | £749 |
| Sensor | f/4 (constant max aperture) | f/2.8 (constant max aperture) |
| Video | 100cm minimum focus distance | 85cm minimum focus distance |
| Autofocus | Silent Wave Motor (SWM) — fast and quiet with full-time manual override | VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor |
| Stabilisation | 4-stop VR (Vibration Reduction) | None (relies on body IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | N/A | — |
| Battery Life | N/A | — |
| Weight | 850g | 810g |
| Dimensions | 78mm diameter × 178.5mm length | 81.0 × 149.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | N/A | — |
| Screen | N/A | — |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (FX / DX) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A | — |
| Connectivity | N/A | — |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR | Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — |
⚡ Compare specs side by side
AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR prices →
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD prices →
More comparisons with AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR