Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM vs Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
Across Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, and Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, the Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD takes the highest Mars Score (83.2), followed by Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (80.6) and Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM (72.4). See the full readout below.
Pick the Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD if you want the highest-scoring choice on raw spec strength. The lead is narrow (2.6 points), so the runner-up is a fair alternative if its specific strengths fit your use.
Pick the Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM when you want the same overall quality at a likely lower street price — the score gap is small enough to be invisible day-to-day.
Pick the Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM only if its specific strengths align with what you need — it sits well behind the other two on the Mars Score.
Spec comparison
Optics
| Spec | RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | FE 135mm f/1.8 GM | 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min focal | 100 mm | 135 mm | 150 mm |
| Max focal | 500 mm | 135 mm | 500 mm |
| Max aperture | f/4.5 | f/1.8 | f/5 |
| Min aperture | f/51 | f/22 | f/32 |
Build
| Spec | RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | FE 135mm f/1.8 GM | 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1530 g | 950 g | 1725 g |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true | true |
| Optical stabilizationⓘ | true | false | true |
Mount
| Spec | RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | FE 135mm f/1.8 GM | 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lens mount | Canon RF | Sony E | Sony E |
Pairwise deep dives
Frequently asked
Which scores highest overall: Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, or Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?+
Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD scores highest at 83.2, followed by Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (80.6) and Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM (72.4).
Which is the newest of Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, and Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?+
Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is the most recent, released 2021-04-28.
One spec at a time
vsMars is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.