§ 03 Head to head

Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR vs Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

Nikon 180–600mm f/5.6-6.3 has a longer reach. Tamron 150–500mm f/5-6.7 has a brighter maximum aperture.

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR is an 180–600mm f/5.6-6.3 zoom, and the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is a 150–500mm f/5-6.7 zoom. On paper the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD comes out ahead, 6 advantages to 3, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

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01

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR better than the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?

  • Longer reach (600mm vs 500mm)
  • More aperture blades (9 vs 7)
  • Newer design (2023 vs 2021)

Why is the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD better than the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR?

  • Brighter maximum aperture (f/5-6.7 vs f/5.6-6.3)
  • Wider field of view (150mm vs 180mm)
  • 415 g lighter (1725 g vs 2140 g)
  • 106 mm shorter (209.6 mm vs 315.5 mm long)
  • Focuses 70 cm closer (0.6 m vs 1.3 m)
  • Smaller filter thread (82 mm vs 95 mm)
02

Which should you buy?

By use
  • wildlife For wildlife photography, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR has the edge: it reaches 600mm against 500mm.
  • sports For sports photography, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR has the edge: it reaches 600mm against 500mm.
  • portrait For portrait photography, the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD has the edge: its f/5-6.7 aperture gathers more light than f/5.6-6.3.
03

Specification

17 rows · better value flagged ◆
SpecificationNikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRTamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
Focal length180–600mm 150–500mm
Maximum aperturef/5.6-6.3 f/5-6.7 ◆
Minimum aperturef/32-36 f/22
Lens typeSuper-telephoto zoom lens Zoom lens
FormatFull Frame Full frame
Weight2,140 g (4.72 lbs) 1725 g ◆
Dimensions110 mm (diameter) x 315.5 mm (length) 209.6 x 93 mm
Minimum focusing distance1.3 m (4.27 ft) at 180mm; 2.4 m (7.88 ft) at 600mm 0.6 m ◆
Maximum magnification0.25x —
Image stabilizationYes (Vibration Reduction with up to 5.5 stops of compensation) Yes
Weather sealingDust and drip resistant Yes
Aperture ringNo No
Aperture blades9 (rounded) ◆7
Optical construction25 elements in 17 groups (including 6 ED elements and 1 aspherical element) 25 elements / 16 groups
Filter size95 mm 82 mm ◆
Lens mountNikon Z Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X
Released2023 2021
04

Size

Drawn to relative scale
  • A · Nikon
  • B · Tamron
  • 315.5 × 110 mm
  • 209.6 × 93 mm

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR is 106 mm longer and 415 g heavier than the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD.

05

Sample frames

Shot on each lens

Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR

Doc
Doc by joseph.guarino.2002
A Miss
A Miss by nickinthegarden
Ironic; maybe
Ironic; maybe by nickinthegarden
Opportunist
Opportunist by MPnormaleye

Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

Vuelta
Vuelta by Guillermo Relaño
9M--AJL
9M--AJL by MarkP51
F-HTYD
F-HTYD by MarkP51
Japanese macaque - Pairi Daiza
Japanese macaque - Pairi Daiza by ML | Photography
06

Video reviews

4 on YouTube
Video thumbnail for Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR review 1
Video thumbnail for Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR review 2
Video thumbnail for Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD review 1
Video thumbnail for Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD review 2
07

Questions

Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR or the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?
The Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD opens to f/5-6.7, against f/5.6-6.3 on the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR.
Which is lighter, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR or the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?
The Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD weighs 1725 g, 415 g less than the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR (2140 g).
Which focuses closer, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR or the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?
The Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD focuses down to 0.6 m, against 1.3 m for the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR.
Do the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR and the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD have image stabilization?
Yes, both lenses have optical image stabilization.
Is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR or the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD better for wildlife photography?
For wildlife photography, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR has the edge: it reaches 600mm against 500mm.
Is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR or the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD better for sports photography?
For sports photography, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR has the edge: it reaches 600mm against 500mm.
08

Other comparisons