Compare lenses

Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM vs Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD

The Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM 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-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM if you want a lighter lens (270 g against 620 g). Pick the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD if you want a brighter f/3.5 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; more reach (to 450mm equivalent); a wider view (from 27mm equivalent); and a fit on more cameras (106 against 18 in this guide).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM 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-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM	Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
Maker	Canon	Tamron
Focal length	55-210mm (zoom)	18-300mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	82-315mm on APS-C	27-450mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/5-7.1	f/3.5-6.3brighter
Made for	APS-C	APS-C
Mounts	Canon RF	Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	3.8×	16.7×more range
Weight	270 glighter	620 g
Cameras it fits	18 in this guide	106 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM: 55-210mm on APS-C, like 82-315mm.

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

Aperture

Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM: f/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-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM fits 18 and the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD 106.