Compare lenses

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC

The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM 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; more reach (to 300mm equivalent); and a fit on more cameras (31 against 14 in this guide). On these specs the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 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-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM 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	Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM	Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC
Maker	Canon	Tamron
Focal length	17-85mm (zoom)	18-200mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	26-128mm 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	Canon EF	Canon EF, Nikon F
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	5.0×	11.1×more range
Cameras it fits	14 in this guide	31 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM: 17-85mm on APS-C, like 26-128mm.

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

Aperture

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM: 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

14 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM fits 14 and the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC 31.