The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS and the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II 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. Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD is the longer of the two lenses at 100mm. The Canon 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS with a length of 96mm, is 4mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS has a larger diameter of 77mm compared to the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD's 75mm 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. Canon 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS weighs 515g, which means it is 25g (4%) lighter than the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD which has a weight of 540g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS and the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD have the same Filter thread size of 67mm.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF Mount.
Canon 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS is also available in the Canon EF-S mount.
Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD is also available in Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS has a focal range of 18-135mm and
7.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
28.8-216mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD has a focal range of 16-300mm and 18.8X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 25.6-480mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
