Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS 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 Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS.

Which is lighter, the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS 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, 390 g less than the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS (2115 g).

Which focuses closer, the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS 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 2.4 m for the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS.

Do the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS 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 Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS or the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD better for wildlife photography?

For wildlife photography, the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS has the edge: it reaches 600mm against 500mm.

Is the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS or the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD better for sports photography?

For sports photography, the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS has the edge: it reaches 600mm against 500mm.

§ 03 Head to head

Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS vs Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

Sony 200–600mm f/5.6-6.3 has a longer reach. Tamron 150–500mm f/5-6.7 has a brighter maximum aperture.

Both lenses are made for the Sony E mount: the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS is a 200–600mm 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, 7 advantages to 2, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

f/5.6-6.3 · 200–600mm · 2115 g

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

f/5-6.7 · 150–500mm · 1725 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS better than the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD?

Longer reach (600mm vs 500mm)
More aperture blades (11 vs 7)

Why is the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD better than the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS?

Brighter maximum aperture (f/5-6.7 vs f/5.6-6.3)
Wider field of view (150mm vs 200mm)
390 g lighter (1725 g vs 2115 g)
108 mm shorter (209.6 mm vs 318 mm long)
Focuses 180 cm closer (0.6 m vs 2.4 m)
Smaller filter thread (82 mm vs 95 mm)
Newer design (2021 vs 2019)

Which should you buy?

By use

wildlife For wildlife photography, the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS has the edge: it reaches 600mm against 500mm.
sports For sports photography, the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS 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.

Specification

17 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS	Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
Focal length	200–600mm	150–500mm
Maximum aperture	f/5.6-6.3	f/5-6.7 ◆
Minimum aperture	f/32-36	f/22
Lens type	Super-telephoto zoom lens	Zoom lens
Format	Full Frame	Full frame
Weight	2,115 g (4.67 lbs)	1725 g ◆
Dimensions	111.5 mm (diameter) x 318 mm (length)	209.6 x 93 mm
Minimum focusing distance	2.4 m (7.87 feet)	0.6 m ◆
Maximum magnification	0.2x	—
Image stabilization	Yes (Optical SteadyShot)	Yes
Weather sealing	Yes	Yes
Aperture ring	No	No
Aperture blades	11 (rounded) ◆	7
Optical construction	24 elements in 17 groups, including aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements	25 elements / 16 groups
Filter size	95 mm	82 mm ◆
Lens mount	Sony E	Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X
Released	2019	2021

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Sony
B · Tamron

318 × 111.5 mm
209.6 × 93 mm

The Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS is 108 mm longer and 390 g heavier than the Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens