Compare lenses

Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II vs Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC

The Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II and the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC if you want a brighter f/3.5 (0.4 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a wider view (from 27mm equivalent); and a fit on more cameras (31 against 17 in this guide). On these specs the Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II and the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II	Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC
Maker	Nikon	Tamron
Focal length	55-200mm (zoom)	18-200mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	82-300mm on APS-C	27-300mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/4-5.6	f/3.5-6.3brighter
Made for	APS-C	APS-C
Mounts	Nikon F	Canon EF, Nikon F
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	3.6×	11.1×more range
Cameras it fits	17 in this guide	31 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II: 55-200mm on APS-C, like 82-300mm.

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC: 18-200mm on APS-C, like 27-300mm.

Aperture

Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II: f/4 wide open.

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC: f/3.5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

17 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II fits 17 and the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC 31.