Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
Prime/Zoom
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Prime/Zoom
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD lands at 88 and Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR at 90. That puts Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD if…
- ✓Fast aperture
- ✓Quiet autofocus
- ✓Weather-sealed (most)
Pick Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR if…
- ✓Fast autofocus
- ✓Weather-sealed
- ✓Premium optics
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testBuild
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRCompared on the build sub-score
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR leads on build (94 vs 88).
Sharpness
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRCompared on the sharpness sub-score
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR leads on sharpness (90 vs 88).
Autofocus
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRCompared on the autofocus sub-score
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR leads on af (89 vs 86).
Value for money
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXDSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD more score per dollar ($1,399 vs $1,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD | Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR |
|---|
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
- +Fast aperture
- +Quiet autofocus
- +Weather-sealed (most)
- −Mount-specific
- −Weight varies
- −Price scales with quality
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
- +Fast autofocus
- +Weather-sealed
- +Premium optics
- −Heavy
- −Expensive
- −Focus breathing varies
FAQ: Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD vs Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Which is better, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD or Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR? +
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD worth the price? +
At $1,399, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sharpness.
Is Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR worth the price? +
At $1,699, Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in build.
Does Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD or Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for build, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD or Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR? +
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR — leads on build (94 vs 88). Compared on the build sub-score.
Which is better for sharpness, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD or Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR? +
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR — leads on sharpness (90 vs 88). Compared on the sharpness sub-score.