Compare lenses

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM vs Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM and the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD if you want a fit on more cameras (39 against 22 in this guide). On these specs the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS 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/4-5.6L IS USM and the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecCanon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USMTamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD
MakerCanonTamron
Focal length70-300mm (zoom)70-300mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent70-300mm70-300mm
Maximum aperturef/4-5.6f/4-5.6
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsCanon EFCanon EF, Nikon F
Stabilisedyesyes
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range4.3×4.3×
Cameras it fits22 in this guide39 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080070-300mm equiv.Canon
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM: 70-300mm.
142435508513520040080070-300mm equiv.Tamron
Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD: 70-300mm.

Aperture

f/4
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM: f/4 wide open.
f/4
Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD: f/4 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

Canon at 70mm · 29°Tamron at 70mm · 29°Canon at 300mm · 7°Tamron at 300mm · 7°
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/4-5.6L IS USM fits 22 and the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD 39.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

and 12 more

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD

and 29 more

On their own pages