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 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD 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 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD is the longer of the two lenses at 227mm. The Canon RF 100-400mm with a length of 165mm, is 62mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD also has a larger diameter of 94mm 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 602g (48%) lighter than the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD which has a weight of 1237g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 100-400mm has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD has a 86mm 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 86mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 100-400mm has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD 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 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
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 200-500mm f5-6.3 LD has a focal range of 200-500mm and 2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 320 - 800mm.
