Compare lenses

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S vs Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

The Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S and the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S if you want a brighter f/4.5 (0.3 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a wider view (from 100mm equivalent); and a lighter lens (1435 g against 1725 g). Pick the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD if you want more reach (to 500mm equivalent) and a fit on more cameras (88 against 16 in this guide).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S and the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III 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.
SpecNikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR STamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
MakerNikonTamron
Focal length100-400mm (zoom)150-500mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent100-400mm150-500mm
Maximum aperturef/4.5-5.6brighterf/5-6.7
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsNikon ZSony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z
Stabilisedyesyes
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range4.0×more range3.3×
Weight1435 glighter1725 g
Cameras it fits16 in this guide88 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

1424355085135200400800100-400mm equiv.Nikon
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S: 100-400mm.
1424355085135200400800150-500mm equiv.Tamron
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD: 150-500mm.

Aperture

f/4.5
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S: f/4.5 wide open.
f/5
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD: f/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

Nikon at 100mm · 20°Tamron at 150mm · 14°Nikon at 400mm · 5°Tamron at 500mm · 4°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

16 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S fits 16 and the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD 88.

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

and 6 more

Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

and 78 more

On their own pages