Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM 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 | Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 950 g | 1725 g |
| Optical stabilization | false | true |
| Min focal | 135 mm | 150 mm |
| Max focal | 135 mm | 500 mm |
Between the FE 135mm f/1.8 GM and 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, the FE 135mm f/1.8 GM comes out ahead in weight, while the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD wins on optical stabilization / min focal. Overall, the FE 135mm f/1.8 GM scores 74.3 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 (74.3 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 FE 135mm f/1.8 GM 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 — 775.00 g less. 950 vs 1725.
Pick the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD if you care most about optical stabilization / min focal. Its strongest claims are optical stabilization, min focal, max focal. The single most decisive one: Has Optical stabilization.
Both ship with comparable weather sealed, 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: Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM or Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?
Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM leads the current Mars Score by 0.4 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 Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM if…
Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM 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 has stabilization, 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 Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM wins
- ▲Weight — 775.00 g less. 950 vs 1725.
Why Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD wins
- ▲Has Optical stabilization.
- ▲Min focal: 150 (vs 135).
- ▲Max focal: 500 (vs 135).
Spec comparison
Optics
| Spec | Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Min focal | 135 mm | 150 mmlead |
| Max focal | 135 mm | 500 mmlead |
| Max aperture | f/1.8 | f/5 |
| Min aperture | f/22 | f/32 |
Build
| Spec | Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 950 glead | 1725 g |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Optical stabilizationⓘ | false | truelead |
Mount
| Spec | Sony - FE 135mm f/1.8 GM | Tamron - 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Lens mount | Sony E | Sony E |