Canon L EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
Canon
61 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 180mm
Tamron
74 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Canon L EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
No customer feedback yet
Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 180mm
85 out of 100 high confidence 60 reviews
The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 G2 is widely praised for its sharpness, lightweight design, and excellent value compared to pricier OEM alternatives like the Sony 70-200mm GM II. Users highlight fast autofocus, effective image stabilization, and solid build quality, making it a favorite for sports, wildlife, and everyday telephoto shooting. A few concerns include the lack of a 200mm reach, potential dust ingress on the extending front, and isolated reports of gray market units without full warranty. Overall, it delivers professional-grade results at a fraction of the cost.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness across zoom range
- Lightweight and portable design
- Excellent value for money
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Effective image stabilization
Cons
- Lacks 200mm reach of competitors
- Extending front element may collect dust
- Gray market units without full warranty
- Not parfocal
- Incompatible with teleconverters
Sharpness 18
Value for money 15
Weight and portability 14
Autofocus performance 12
Image stabilization 8
Build quality 10
Scores
Landscape
Macro
Travel
Video Cinema
Professional
Budget
Wildlife Sports
Street
Portrait
Specifications
| Canon L EF 17-40mm f/4L USM | Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 180mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 17 mm | 70 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 40 mm | 180 mm |
| Elements | 12 | 20 |
| Groups | 9 | 15 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 3 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.50 kg★ | 0.85 kg |
| Filter Thread | 77 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | USM★ | VXD |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 280 mm★ | 300 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.24x | 1:2.6★ |
Pros & Cons
Canon L EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
- Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong optical (78th percentile)
- Strong versatility (76th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 180mm
- Strong optical (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong versatility (78th percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
Pricing
Canon L EF 17-40mm f/4L USM0.005score per dollar
vs
Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 180mm0.003score per dollar
Canon L EF 17-40mm f/4L USM offers 1.7x better value for money
Verdict
Winner: Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 180mm
Scores 74 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
