Tamron 150-600 VC Lens vs Sigma 150-600mm C Lens

                       

Tamron 150-600 VC Lens vs Sigma 150-600mm C Lens

               
If you’re looking to buy a 150-600mm telephoto zoom, you could be forgiven for being a little unsure as to your choice. There are currently some very competitive lenses in that exact market, courtesy of some one-upmanship between Tamron and Sigma.

Tamaron 150-600 VC USD SP

With a budget of £900 you can pick up either the Tamron 150-600mm f5-6.3 SP Di VC USD or the Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 C DG OS HSM. The ‘C’ stands for ‘Contemporary’, denoting Sigma’s relatively cheaper line of lenses. A more sophisticated ‘S’ or ‘Sport’ version is available for around £1500, which promises better image quality – see here for our field test.

Sigma 150-600 Contemporary

Not only are these lenses similarly priced but they also share a number of other characteristics – they obviously carry same zoom and aperture ranges, but also weigh roughly the same (around 1,900g apiece) and both contain ultrasonic-type autofocus motor and optical stabilisation systems.
There are, however, a number of key differences that could affect which one of these lenses is right for you. We’ve rounded up the main different features between theses two lenses to which one, on the surface, looks like the better buy.

 

Differences between the Tamron 150-600 VC Lens and the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary Lens

The "Which is better?" question is frequently being aimed at the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens and the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens, the first major entry into the 150-600mm lens category. These two lenses are direct competitors, sharing many features including USD/HSM AF, OS/VC, build quality and lightweight design. From the image quality perspective, here is the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary Lens vs. Tamron 150-600 VC Lens comparison.

At the wide end of the focal length range, the Sigma is sharper with a wide open aperture. The Tamron is 1/3 stop wider at some of the comparison focal lengths (200mm and 400mm) and to be fair, I am comparing those focal lengths at the widest equal aperture. At 200mm, these two lenses are very similar in sharpness wide open. At 300mm, I'll give the Sigma a slight advantage and at 400mm through 500mm, the slight advantage swings to the Tamron, though the Sigma's corners are better at 500mm. At 600mm, the Tamron has a very slight center-of-the-frame advantage and the Sigma has a larger corner-of-the-frame advantage.

Stopping down to f/8 reduces most of the sharpness advantages one lens has over the other. The Sigma has sharper corners at 150mm and 500mm, but the Tamron has sharper corners at 400mm. The Sigma is noticeably sharper at 600mm, especially in the mid and peripheral portions of the image circle.

The Tamron has slightly stronger pincushion distortion and has more noticeable CA. The Sigma has more vignetting with a wide open aperture, averaging roughly .5 stops of stronger corner shading over most of the focal length range except at the 600mm end where the the difference is only about .2 stops. Stopped down to f/8, the vignetting difference at the long end remains small, but the Tamron holds an edge in the wide end corners. Corner shading differences at f/11 are not going to be noticeable except perhaps in 300mm corners.

This image quality comparison does not place either lens with a clear lead and either lens can be justified, perhaps with decision emphasis being placed on the focal length expected to be most-valued. Here is a list showing additional differences between the Tamron and Sigma Contemporary versions of the 150-600mm lenses:

Tamaron 150-600 VC USD SP

Tamaron 150-600 Nikon D7200 @600mm

 

 Sigma 150-600 contemporary

Sigma 150-600 c Nikon D7200 @600mm

 

MY POINT OF VIEW ON THE TWO LENSES

• I found the Tamron's autofocus to be more consistently accurate at the wide end, but the Sigma's was more accurate at the long end.
• The Tamron is modestly less expensive.
• The Sigma has an optional dock, with various advantages including custom switch programing, AFMA, firmware update capability, and much more.
• The Sigma is extender compatible.
• The Sigma's OS system offers mode 2 and I found the Sigma's stabilization more effective at the long end of the focal length range.
• The Sigma's zoom rotation direction is the same as Canon's; the Tamron's zoom rotates in the opposite (Nikon standard) direction.
• The Tamron has slightly wider (1/3 stop) apertures over some of the focal length range.
• The Sigma's focus ring has modestly more rotation (150° vs. 120°).
• The Tamron has a smoother, larger, easier-to-use manual focus ring.
• The Sigma has a smoother diameter.
• The Tamron has lower profile switches.
• The Sigma better-facilitates push-pull use.
• The Sigma has a multi-position focal length lock while the Tamron only locks at 150mm.
• The Tamron weighs slightly more, but has a 2x heavier tripod ring, allowing it to weigh slightly less with that ring removed.
• The Sigma has a replacement ring for the removed tripod ring.
• The Tamron's hood is larger.
• The Tamron focuses slightly closer, but shares the Sigma's 0.20x maximum magnification spec.
• The Tamron's warranty is 6 years vs. the Sigma's 4 year warranty (in the USA).

 Which lens is better?

I don't think that there is a right or wrong answer here, but I lean slightly toward the Sigma, partially because these lenses are going to most frequently be bought for and used at the 600mm focal length and, at least at f/8, the Sigma holds the optical advantage at 600mm.

Belanove K Binu

About The Author
Belanove is a Software Engineering Student and a photographer who has spent the last 5 years Researching and Understanding Dslrs & Technology
but has never hacked DSLR and specializes in writing about  Photography Products and Emerging photography technology.
When not writing for DSLR360, Belanove Conducts photography classes online,Goes out for bird watching,Wildlife photography and off course Attends college.