The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 100-400mm and the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD 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 RF 100-400mm is the longer of the two lenses at 165mm. The Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD with a length of 143mm, is 22mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD has a larger diameter of 82mm compared to the Canon RF 100-400mm's 80mm 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 RF 100-400mm weighs 635g, which means it is 130g (16%) lighter than the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD which has a weight of 765g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 100-400mm has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 100-400mm:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 100-400mm has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Focal Range
Canon RF 100-400mm has a focal range of 100-400mm and
4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
160 - 640mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 VC USD has a focal range of 70-300mm and 4.3X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112 - 480mm.
