Compare lenses

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM vs Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM and the Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD if you want a brighter f/3.5 (0.4 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a wider view (from 28mm equivalent); and a fit on more cameras (39 against 22 in this guide). On these specs the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM 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 Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM and the Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM	Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD
Maker	Canon	Tamron
Focal length	70-300mm (zoom)	28-300mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	70-300mm	28-300mm
Maximum aperture	f/4-5.6	f/3.5-6.3brighter
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF, Nikon F
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	4.3×	10.7×more range
Cameras it fits	22 in this guide	39 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM: 70-300mm.

Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD: 28-300mm.

Aperture

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM: f/4 wide open.

Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD: 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

22 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM fits 22 and the Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD 39.