Skip to content
Specdex
Compare now
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 — Prime/Zoom
Tamron

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Prime/Zoom

90
/ 100
From $1,299
VS
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S wins by 1
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S — Prime/Zoom
Nikon

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

Prime/Zoom

91
/ 100
From $2,699
Specdex verdict

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 lands at 90 and Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S at 91. That puts Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 if…

  • ✓Fast aperture
  • ✓Quiet autofocus
  • ✓Weather-sealed (most)

Pick Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S if…

  • ✓Fast aperture
  • ✓Quiet autofocus
  • ✓Weather-sealed (most)
Share this comparison: Share to Reddit X / Twitter

Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sharpness

Tie

Compared on the sharpness sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Autofocus

Tie

Compared on the autofocus sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Build

Tie

Compared on the build sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 more score per dollar ($1,299 vs $2,699).

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 90
vs
91 Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

Score breakdown

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2
90
sharpness 90
af 88
build 88
value 85
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
91
sharpness 91
af 89
build 88
value 85

Specs side-by-side

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 versus Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S — full spec comparison
Spec Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Pros
  • +Fast aperture
  • +Quiet autofocus
  • +Weather-sealed (most)
Cons
  • −Mount-specific
  • −Weight varies
  • −Price scales with quality

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

Pros
  • +Fast aperture
  • +Quiet autofocus
  • +Weather-sealed (most)
Cons
  • −Mount-specific
  • −Weight varies
  • −Price scales with quality

FAQ: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 vs Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

Which is better, Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 or Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S? +

Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S scores 91 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 worth the price? +

At $1,299, Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in sharpness.

Is Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S worth the price? +

At $2,699, Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in sharpness.

Does Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 or Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S 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 the better value, Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 or Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S? +

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 — more score per dollar ($1,299 vs $2,699). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.