Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR or the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD?

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR opens to f/4.5-5.6, against f/4.5-6.3 on the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD.

Which is lighter, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR or the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD?

The Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD weighs 1135 g, 435 g less than the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR (1570 g).

Which focuses closer, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR or the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD?

The Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD focuses down to 1.5 m, against 1.75 m for the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR.

Do the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR and the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD have image stabilization?

Yes, both lenses have optical image stabilization.

Is the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR or the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD better for portrait photography?

For portrait photography, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR has the edge: its f/4.5-5.6 aperture gathers more light than f/4.5-6.3.

§ 03 Head to head

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR vs Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD

Nikon 80–400mm f/4.5-5.6 has a brighter maximum aperture. Tamron 100–400mm f/4.5-6.3 is 435 g lighter.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is an 80–400mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom, and the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD is a 100–400mm f/4.5-6.3 zoom. On paper the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD comes out ahead, 5 advantages to 2, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

f/4.5-5.6 · 80–400mm · 1570 g

Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD

f/4.5-6.3 · 100–400mm · 1135 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR better than the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD?

Brighter maximum aperture (f/4.5-5.6 vs f/4.5-6.3)
Wider field of view (80mm vs 100mm)

Why is the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD better than the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR?

435 g lighter (1135 g vs 1570 g)
4 mm shorter (199 mm vs 203 mm long)
Focuses 25 cm closer (1.5 m vs 1.75 m)
Higher maximum magnification (0.28x vs 0.2x)
Smaller filter thread (67 mm vs 77 mm)

Which should you buy?

By use

portrait For portrait photography, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR has the edge: its f/4.5-5.6 aperture gathers more light than f/4.5-6.3.

Specification

17 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR	Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD
Focal length	80–400mm	100–400mm
Maximum aperture	f/4.5-5.6 ◆	f/4.5-6.3
Minimum aperture	f/32-40	f/32-45
Lens type	Telephoto zoom lens	Telephoto zoom lens
Format	Full Frame	Full Frame
Weight	1,570 g (3.46 lbs)	1,135 g (40 oz) for Canon, 1,115 g (39.3 oz) for Nikon ◆
Dimensions	95.5 mm (diameter) x 203 mm (length)	86.2 mm (diameter) x 199 mm (length) for Canon, 196.5 mm (length) for Nikon
Minimum focusing distance	1.75 m (5.74 ft)	1.5 m (59 in) ◆
Maximum magnification	0.2x	1:3.6 ◆
Image stabilization	Yes (Vibration Reduction with up to 4 stops of compensation)	Yes (VC - Vibration Compensation)
Weather sealing	Yes	Yes (Moisture-Resistant Construction)
Aperture ring	No	No
Aperture blades	9 (rounded)	9 (circular)
Optical construction	20 elements in 12 groups (including 4 ED elements and 1 Super ED element)	17 elements in 11 groups
Filter size	77 mm	67 mm ◆
Lens mount	Nikon F	Canon EF, Nikon F
Released	—	2017

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Nikon
B · Tamron

203 × 95.5 mm
199 × 86.2 mm

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is 4 mm longer and 435 g heavier than the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens

Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD

A lot of horsepower and sparkle! by Atodog

Huizhou West Lake Sunset（惠州西湖日落） by Kingway Chow

Video reviews

4 on YouTube

Video thumbnail for Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR review 1

Video thumbnail for Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR review 2

Video thumbnail for Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD review 1

Video thumbnail for Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD review 2

Questions

Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR or the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD?: The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR opens to f/4.5-5.6, against f/4.5-6.3 on the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD.
Which is lighter, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR or the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD?: The Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD weighs 1135 g, 435 g less than the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR (1570 g).
Which focuses closer, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR or the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD?: The Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD focuses down to 1.5 m, against 1.75 m for the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR.
Do the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR and the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD have image stabilization?: Yes, both lenses have optical image stabilization.
Is the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR or the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD better for portrait photography?: For portrait photography, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR has the edge: its f/4.5-5.6 aperture gathers more light than f/4.5-6.3.