100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporaryvs Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary (2020) Starting from £749 new Best for Wildlife & sports photography on a budget View 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
VS
Tamron Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Tamron Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (2020) Starting from £749 new Best for Portraits, weddings & outdoor sports View Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD

GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?

Wildlife & Sports Photography On A Budget — 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary (2020): The best-value telephoto zoom for Sony FE — 400mm reach, OS, and weather sealing for under £800. Punches well above its price at every focal length.

Portraits, Weddings & Outdoor Sports — Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (2020): The lightest f/2.8 telephoto zoom for Sony FE — 70-180mm coverage with VXD AF and weather sealing at significantly less than Sony's 70-200mm GM II.

↓ Full specifications below

Who should buy what

Quick take: These cameras are closely matched across the key specs below. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary (2020)Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (2020)
Price £749 £749
Sensor f/5-6.3 (variable max aperture) f/2.8 (constant max aperture)
Video 160cm minimum focus distance 85cm minimum focus distance
Autofocus HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) — fast and near-silent for a telephoto zoom VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor
Stabilisation 4-stop OS (Optical Stabiliser) None (relies on body IBIS)
Burst Rate N/A —
Battery Life N/A —
Weight 1140g 810g
Dimensions 86.4mm diameter × 199.2mm length 81.0 × 149.4mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes
Viewfinder N/A —
Screen N/A —
Mount Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards N/A —
Connectivity N/A —

Suitability by genre

Genre 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS ContemporaryTamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD
Wildlife
9.0
7.0
Sports & Action
7.0
9.0
Landscape
7.0
4.0
Portrait —
9.0
Wedding & Events —
9.0
Vlogging & Video —
7.0
⚡ Compare specs side by side 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary prices → Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD prices →

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