Today I’m reviewing the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III A VC VXD, a 16x zoom lens.
Compatible with Sony’s mirrorless E-mount and Fuji X-mount cameras.
Features of Tamron 18-300mm
Build Quality and Image Stabilization
The lens boasts commendable build quality; despite its plastic construction, it feels solid and has a pleasing brushed finish. Weighing 620 grams, it is best suited for larger cameras.
Weather sealing adds to its allure, and its image stabilization (called VC by Tamron) enhances picture clarity irrespective of the camera used.
The lens isn’t perfect though; the zoom ring is a little stiff, and the autofocus speed is only average, though it improves substantially in auto-focus continuous mode.
Image Quality and Performance
When it comes to image quality, the lens performs satisfactorily, particularly in the mid-range of the zoom.
The images are sharp at 50 millimeters, but at the extremes, the performance dips: the corners at 18mm are noticeably soft, and at 300mm, images look hazy.
Issues like strong barrel distortion at 18mm and vignetting are present, but these can be rectified by stopping down.
The lens’s close-up image quality is decent, and it deals well with bright lights, exhibiting minimal flaring. However, the quality of the bokeh, while not terrible, is on the nervous side.
Konnichiwa! (Hello!) I'm Pat Tokuyama, a Japanese tofu cookbook author, who travels for music, food, and adventure. If you like Japanese tea, checkout some of the newestorganic japanese tea, matcha bowls and noren and more!
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Convenience and Versatility
this Tamron lens offers exceptional performance that delivers in terms of build quality, image stabilization, autofocus, and mid-range sharpness but does fall short at the extremes of its zoom range.
It’s a fun lens to use and I can recommend it for those seeking convenience and versatility in their photography.
Considerations for Purchase
The lens might not be suited for more demanding photographers, due to its limitations in terms of sharpness at the extremes of its zoom range.
However, it serves as a great all-in-one lens for travel or casual photography.
When purchasing this lens, remember to consider the lighting conditions you’ll be shooting in, given its dark maximum aperture.
It may not perform as well in low-light conditions.
Conclusion
The Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III A VC VXD lens offers photographers the convenience of a wide zoom range in a single package.
While it may fall short in terms of sharpness at the extremes of its zoom range and exhibit some optical imperfections, its overall performance, build quality, and versatility makes it a compelling option for travel and casual photography.
Whether capturing wide-angle landscapes or zooming in for distant subjects, this lens provides convenience and ease of use without compromising too heavily on image quality.
If you like to know more about Tamron lenses, check out my other blog post below:
Konnichiwa! (Hello!) I'm Pat Tokuyama, a Japanese tofu cookbook author, who travels for music, food, and adventure. If you like Japanese tea, checkout some of the newestorganic japanese tea, matcha bowls and noren and more!
** Curious about the Plant Based Japanese Cooking Club? ** Learn more here!