The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM and the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 184mm. The Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD with a length of 96mm, is 88mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD's 74mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD weighs 540g, 67% (1130g) lighter than the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM's weight of 1670g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the SuperZoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Superzoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM and the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
28-300mm but while Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM has the fastest aperture of
F3.5 - F5.6, the Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 VC PZD's widest aperture value is
F3.5 - F6.3.