Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM vs Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1530 g | 1725 g |
| Min focal | 100 mm | 150 mm |
Between the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM and 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM comes out ahead in weight, while the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD wins on min focal. Overall, the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM scores 74.1 and the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD scores 73.9 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (74.1 vs 73.9). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight. The single most decisive one: Weight — 195.00 g less. 1530 vs 1725.
Pick the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD if you care most about min focal. Its strongest claims are min focal. The single most decisive one: Min focal: 150 (vs 100).
Both ship with comparable max focal, weather sealed, optical stabilization, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM or Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?
Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM leads the current Mars Score by 0.2 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare min focal, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM if…
Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM has the measurable edge on weight g.
Choose Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD if…
Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD has the measurable edge on focal min mm.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM wins
- ▲Weight — 195.00 g less. 1530 vs 1725.
Why Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD wins
- ▲Min focal: 150 (vs 100).
Spec comparison
Optics
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Min focal | 100 mm | 150 mmlead |
| Max focal | 500 mm | 500 mm |
| Max aperture | f/4.5 | f/5 |
| Min aperture | f/51 | f/32 |
Build
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1530 glead | 1725 g |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Optical stabilizationⓘ | true | true |
Mount
| Spec | Canon - RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Lens mount | Canon RFlead | Sony E |