Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S 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 | Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1440 g | 1725 g |
| Min focal | 70 mm | 150 mm |
| Max focal | 200 mm | 500 mm |
Between the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S and 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S comes out ahead in weight, while the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD wins on min focal / max focal. Overall, the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S scores 69.1 and the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD scores 73.9 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD edges ahead on the Mars Score (69.1 vs 73.9), but the 4.8-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S 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 — 285.00 g less. 1440 vs 1725.
Pick the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD if you care most about min focal / max focal. Its strongest claims are min focal, max focal. The single most decisive one: Min focal: 150 (vs 70).
Both ship with comparable 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: Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S or Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?
Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD leads the current Mars Score by 4.8 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare min focal, max focal, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S if…
Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S 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, focal max 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 Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S wins
- ▲Weight — 285.00 g less. 1440 vs 1725.
Why Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD wins
- ▲Min focal: 150 (vs 70).
- ▲Max focal: 500 (vs 200).
Spec comparison
Optics
| Spec | Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Min focal | 70 mm | 150 mmlead |
| Max focal | 200 mm | 500 mmlead |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 | f/5 |
| Min aperture | f/22 | f/32 |
Build
| Spec | Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1440 glead | 1725 g |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Optical stabilizationⓘ | true | true |
Mount
| Spec | Nikon - NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Lens mount | Nikon Zlead | Sony E |