Which is lighter, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary or the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD?

The Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary weighs 585 g, 125 g less than the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD (710 g).

Which focuses closer, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary or the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD?

The Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary focuses down to 0.39 m, against 0.45 m for the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD.

Do the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary and the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD have image stabilization?

Yes, both lenses have optical image stabilization.

Is the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary or the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD better for macro photography?

For macro photography, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.39 m.

Is the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary or the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD better for landscape photography?

For landscape photography, the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD has the edge: it is weather sealed.

§ 03 Head to head

Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary vs Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD

Sigma 18–300mm f/3.5-6.3 is 125 g lighter. Tamron 18–400mm f/3.5-6.3 has a longer reach.

The Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary is an 18–300mm f/3.5-6.3 zoom, and the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD is an 18–400mm f/3.5-6.3 zoom. On paper they trade blows, with 3 advantages each.

Add a third lens →

Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary

f/3.5-6.3 · 18–300mm · 585 g

Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD

f/3.5-6.3 · 18–400mm · 710 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary better than the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD?

125 g lighter (585 g vs 710 g)
22 mm shorter (101.5 mm vs 123.9 mm long)
Focuses 6 cm closer (0.39 m vs 0.45 m)

Why is the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD better than the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary?

Longer reach (400mm vs 300mm)
Is weather sealed
Newer design (2017 vs 2014)

Which should you buy?

By use

macro For macro photography, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.39 m.
landscape For landscape photography, the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD has the edge: it is weather sealed.
architecture For architecture, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary has the edge: it is 125 g lighter to carry.

Specification

18 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary	Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
Focal length	18–300mm	18–400mm
Maximum aperture	f/3.5-6.3	f/3.5-6.3
Minimum aperture	f/22-40	f/40
Lens type	Superzoom lens	Zoom lens
Format	APS-C	APS-C
Weight	585 g (1.29 lbs) ◆	710 g (25.04 oz)
Dimensions	79 mm (diameter) x 101.5 mm (length)	123.9 x 79 mm
Minimum focusing distance	0.39 m (15.4 in) ◆	0.45 m (17.72 inches)
Maximum magnification	0.33x	—
Image stabilization	Yes (Optical Stabilizer)	Yes
Weather sealing	No	Yes ◆
Aperture ring	No	No
Aperture blades	7 (rounded)	7
Optical construction	17 elements in 13 groups	16 elements / 11 groups
Filter size	72 mm	72 mm
Lens mount	Canon EF, Nikon F, Sigma SA, Sony A, Pentax K	Nikon F, Canon EF-S
Released	2014	2017
Price	—	$649 launch price

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Sigma
B · Tamron

101.5 × 79 mm
123.9 × 79 mm

The Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD is 22 mm longer and 125 g heavier than the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens

Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary

Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD

Scenic shot of Penguin Pool by nickym6274

Video reviews

4 on YouTube

Video thumbnail for Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary review 1

Video thumbnail for Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary review 2

Video thumbnail for Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD review 1

Video thumbnail for Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD review 2

Questions

Which is lighter, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary or the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD?: The Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary weighs 585 g, 125 g less than the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD (710 g).
Which focuses closer, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary or the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD?: The Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary focuses down to 0.39 m, against 0.45 m for the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD.
Do the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary and the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD have image stabilization?: Yes, both lenses have optical image stabilization.
Is the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary or the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD better for macro photography?: For macro photography, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.39 m.
Is the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary or the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD better for landscape photography?: For landscape photography, the Tamron 18-400 mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD has the edge: it is weather sealed.