Compare lenses

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD

The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM and the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM if you want coverage of full frame, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too. Pick the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD if you want a brighter f/3.5 (0.7 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a wider view (from 27mm equivalent); a design for APS-C, which usually means smaller and lighter; a fit on more cameras (106 against 18 in this guide); and a lighter lens (620 g against 1365 g).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM and the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD

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 RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM	Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
Maker	Canon	Tamron
Focal length	100-500mm (zoom)	18-300mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	100-500mm	27-450mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/4.5-7.1	f/3.5-6.3brighter
Made for	Full frame	APS-C
Mounts	Canon RF	Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	5.0×	16.7×more range
Weight	1365 g	620 glighter
Cameras it fits	18 in this guide	106 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM: 100-500mm.

Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD: 18-300mm on APS-C, like 27-450mm.

Aperture

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM: f/4.5 wide open.

Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD: 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

18 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM fits 18 and the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD 106.