try/except vs getattr

>>> timer_try_except = Timer(
...     """
...     item = object()
...     try:
...         something = item.landlord.id
...     except AttributeError:
...         pass
...     """
... )
>>>
>>> timer_getattr = Timer(
...     """
...     item = object()
...     def try_getattr():
...         landlord = getattr(item, 'landlord', None)
...         if landlord:
...             pass #normally do something here
...     """
... )
>>> iterations = 9999999
>>> try_except_duration = timer_try_except.timeit(iterations)
>>> getattr_duration = timer_getattr.timeit(iterations)
>>> print 'try/except Duration: %f, %% of getattr: %f%%' % (try_except_duration, (try_except_duration / getattr_duration) * 100)
try/except Duration: 11.601219, % of getattr: 606.159781%
>>> print 'getattr Duration: %f, %% of try/except: %f%%' % (getattr_duration, (getattr_duration / try_except_duration) * 100)
getattr Duration: 1.913888, % of try/except: 16.497300%