§ 03 Head to head

Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM vs Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO

Canon 28–300mm f/3.5-5.6 has a brighter maximum aperture. Tamron 28–300mm f/3.5-6.3 is 1115 g lighter.

Both lenses are made for the Canon EF mount: the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM is a 28–300mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom, and the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO is a 28–300mm f/3.5-6.3 zoom. On paper the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO comes out ahead, 6 advantages to 1, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

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01

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM better than the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO?

  • Brighter maximum aperture (f/3.5-5.6 vs f/3.5-6.3)

Why is the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO better than the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM?

  • 1115 g lighter (555 g vs 1670 g)
  • 85 mm shorter (99 mm vs 184 mm long)
  • Focuses 21 cm closer (0.49 m vs 0.7 m)
  • More aperture blades (9 vs 8)
  • Smaller filter thread (67 mm vs 77 mm)
  • Newer design (2007 vs 2004)
02

Which should you buy?

By use
  • street For street photography, the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO has the edge: it is 1115 g lighter to carry.
  • travel For travel, the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO has the edge: it is 1115 g lighter to carry.
  • macro For macro photography, the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.49 m.
03

Specification

15 rows · better value flagged ◆
SpecificationCanon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USMTamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO
Focal length28–300mm 28–300mm
Maximum aperturef/3.5-5.6 ◆f/3.5-6.3
Minimum aperturef/22-38 f/22-40
Lens typeZoom lens Zoom lens
FormatFull frame Full frame
Weight1670 g (58.91 oz) 555 g (19.58 oz) ◆
Dimensions92 x 184 mm 78.1 x 99 mm
Minimum focusing distance0.7 m (27.56 inches) 0.49 m (19.29 inches) ◆
Image stabilizationYes Yes
Weather sealingYes —
Aperture blades8 9 ◆
Optical construction22 elements in 16 groups 18 elements / 13 groups
Filter size77 mm 67 mm ◆
Lens mountCanon EF Canon EF, Nikon F
Released2004 2007
04

Size

Drawn to relative scale
  • A · Canon
  • B · Tamron
  • 184 × 92 mm
  • 99 × 78.1 mm

The Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM is 85 mm longer and 1115 g heavier than the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO.

05

Sample frames

Shot on each lens

Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

Splash
Splash by Future-Echoes
Derwent Water
Derwent Water by Future-Echoes
Glow
Glow by Future-Echoes
Sunrise reflections
Sunrise reflections by Future-Echoes

Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO

venice beach skateboarder 26a (08-2012) -b&w
venice beach skateboarder 26a (08-2012) -b&w by Thanks for 6,600,000 views!
IMG_5694
IMG_5694 by grafxmangrafxman
IMG_3722
IMG_3722 by grafxmangrafxman
IMG_3737
IMG_3737 by grafxmangrafxman
06

Video reviews

4 on YouTube
Video thumbnail for Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM review 1
Video thumbnail for Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM review 2
Video thumbnail for Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO review 1
Video thumbnail for Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO review 2
07

Questions

Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM or the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO?
The Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM opens to f/3.5-5.6, against f/3.5-6.3 on the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO.
Which is lighter, the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM or the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO?
The Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO weighs 555 g, 1115 g less than the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM (1670 g).
Which focuses closer, the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM or the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO?
The Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO focuses down to 0.49 m, against 0.7 m for the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM.
Do the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM and the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO have image stabilization?
Yes, both lenses have optical image stabilization.
Is the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM or the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO better for street photography?
For street photography, the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO has the edge: it is 1115 g lighter to carry.
Is the Canon EF 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM or the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO better for travel?
For travel, the Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Asph. (IF) MACRO has the edge: it is 1115 g lighter to carry.
08

Other comparisons