Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Review

The Tamron 100-400mm is a weird one. It's a super-telephoto zoom that's surprisingly versatile for its range, but it feels like it's built from spare parts. The one thing you need to know is this: it gets you to 400mm on a budget, but you're giving up a lot to get there. The build quality is rock bottom, there's no stabilization, and the aperture is slow. It's a tool for a very specific job, not a lens you'll love carrying around.

The performance is exactly what the specs and rankings suggest: mediocre. The autofocus lands in the 45th percentile, so it's fine for slow-moving subjects but forget about tracking birds in flight. The optical quality is in the 35th percentile, which means soft corners and noticeable chromatic aberration are part of the package. The only surprise is the 91st percentile for versatility, which just confirms that having a 100-400mm range is inherently useful, even if the lens itself isn't great.

At $816, it's hard to call this a good value. You're paying for the focal length and nothing else. For that money, you could find a used first-party lens with better build and optics, or save a bit more for a model with stabilization. This lens only makes sense if 400mm is an absolute must-have and your budget is locked in stone.

This isn't competing with primes like the Viltrox 35mm. Its real competition is other budget telephoto zooms. The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, for example, gives you stabilization and a more versatile wide-to-tele range for general use, but tops out at 85mm. If you need the long reach, you're better off looking at the used market for a Canon 100-400L, even an older model, or the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary if you can handle the extra weight. Both will feel and perform better.

I can't recommend the Tamron 100-400mm for most people. The lack of stabilization and subpar build are deal-breakers at this price. It's a one-trick pony, and the trick isn't performed very well. Only consider this if you're desperate for a 400mm reach on a new lens with a warranty, and you absolutely cannot spend another dollar. For everyone else, save up, buy used, or look at a different focal length altogether.