The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC and the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM 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 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 189mm. The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC with a length of 183mm, is 6mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC's 89mm 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 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC weighs 1155g, which means it is 225g (16%) lighter than the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM which has a weight of 1380g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has a 77mm 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 Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E 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 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC is also available in the Nikon Z mount.
Focal Range
Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC has a focal range of 50-400mm and
8.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
75 - 600mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM 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.
