Been waiting for your review of this lens, and want to see your review of the 28-300. The good thing is that you use the same tests, so its easy to compare performance.
Been using it for around three weeks now. Other than the moving inner parts the only other downside i have on mine is a constant humming noise and the occasional loud autofocus. Id say image quality has been superb for my uses. Especially enjoyed it for Moon photography.
Thanks Chris for the great review. I think for travel, buy such a compact lens together with 16-35 or 14-24 and you can cover a wide enough range, even for quite extravagant amateur needs.
I have the recent Tamron 28-300mm and, for what it is, it's a great all-around walking lens. Like any zoom lens, the wider the focal range, the more compromises you tend to make, but I do believe its image quality is better than the Nikon 28-300mm on my older DSLRs. I can't say for sure, since I don't have that Nikon lens any longer, but that's my general impression. I'd be interested in seeing a matchup between the Tamron 28-300mm and this 50-300mm.
Good review - as always - but a not so convincing performance of the lens that does not justifies the price. I would like to see a Sigma DC DN Contemporary (APC lens) starting at 50mm and going up to 250mm or 300mm. The aperture at the shorter end should be between f/2.8 and f/4.5 and at the long end between f/2.8 and f/6.3 to match the compactness of the Sigma 10-18mm f/2,8 DC DN and Sigma 18-50mm f/2,8 DC DN. Also the same image quality, build quality and finish of those two lenses would make such a lens a perfect addition for landscape and travel photographers. The options Tamron and Sony are offering are bigger, heavier, have a darker aperture, some of that lenses do not match the image quality of the Sigmas and some of them are much more expensive than the Sigma. So please Sigma, make such a telephoto zoom lens. And if so hopefully reviewed by Christopher Frost. The guy doing the best lens reviews on UA-cam. I thought about to buy the Tamron, but after your review I wont. And I appreciate, that such honest reviews exist in 2024 so I can make a more sophisticated decision.
I don't know for Tamron, but for Canon, rattling lens elements can be normal, it's usually image stabilizer assembly. What happens is if you unmount the lens while the camera is on, the IS assembly isn't parked, in this case you'll want to shut the camera off and wait a few seconds for the elements to park. And in this case near to no rattling.
It can be IS but it also can be the focusing mechanism if the lens uses linear motors. In that case the focusing elements are on rails and they are free floating if not turned on or if there is no parking mechanism. Typical for Fuji lenses for example (like 33mm f/1.4 which doesn't have IS).
Unfortunately, at 300mm+ there is almost no room for saving weight or size with smaller sensors, they don't make such zooms because it's not profitable, the Sony 70-350 is the best you can get and probably nothing better will ever be made.
Considering how good this lens 50-300mm lens is from Tamron in the corners from F6.3 to F11 in FF or F8 in APS-C, I can guess that Tamron's new 100-400mm is also very sharp at 400mm.
Heavier and larger than the tamron 28-300, although you get a wider aperture at the long end (6.3 vs 7.1) I wonder how it compares throughout the zoom range.
I own the older Tamron 70-300 (with the latest firmware installed just today) In your opinion, would it be worth trading up to this new 50-300; would I gain enough of an IQ bump up to offset the slight weight/size increase and the slight decrease in light gathering . I am using it primarily on an a6700 and and an a7c.Thank you Christopher for your enjoyable videos.
Where I am the 70-300 is less than half the price of this new lens and I can't really fault mine. It is exceedingly portable compared to other teles and it performs well enough for me, except 70-90mm corners. It has pretty nice bokeh at 300mm just like this lens seems to have. It also has a kind of sunstars at f/9.
@@Vantrakter I agree with you. The most annoying thing about the 70-300 is the lack of a lock switch. I do love the lightness of the lens even on a smaller camera body.
I found IBIS pretty effective on my a7RIII with the 70-300 so didn't really miss IS in the lens. It seems that Sony doesn't sync IBIS with IS in third-party lenses, so I'm not sure whether adding IS to the 50-300 is going to make much difference with Sony bodies. I replaced my 70-300 with this 50-300 because I can combine it with my 20-40 for a two-lens walkabout kit that covers my desired zoom range. Also, Dustin Abbott has reported that in real-world images the 50-300 shows sharper corners at the wide end, possibly thanks to less focal plane curvature.
@@HappeningPhotos Interesting, coming from a Fuji 50-230mm the 70-300mm feels sooo unstable with IBIS on my ZV-E1 which I believe has similar IBIX to the A7RIII, I hope someone does a comparison but if the IS doesn't sync with IBIS, you're right, probably not worth it for the IS alone.
Hello Cristopher, I have a question I'm using Canon EOS 250d and I'm mostly shooting birds and wildlife photopgraphy, with my cheap tamron 70-300 LD Di Macro but this lens doesn't have an IS or OS and image quality is not the best I have 2 alternatives Canon EF 70-300mm F4-5,6 IS II NANO USM or CANON 100-400 F4.5-6.3 L Mark 1 İS USM LENS (Used) what would you recommend? and if anyone has suggesstion I'm up for it...
The image quality is very similar to the Sony FE 70-300 OSS. Tamron goes a bit wider though but the Sony is a bit brighter. Autofocus on the Tamron is (much) better and it's also a fair bit lighter (nearly 200 gr). Overall seems like a decent lens but a bit pricey at the moment (+900 euro)
Looks like the older 70-300 is the better option here at almost half the price and being sharper at the shorter focal lengths. I think tamron have overreached on the zoom range here they should concentrate on optical perfection rather than overreaching on zoom range. I would rather have a 100-300 with superb optical performance than have this with average optical performance.
Ok, still over 100g heavier than the 70-300mm lol. I've mentioned in a video about the new firmware update for the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Lens for Sony E is still the world's lightest lens in the range (this looks smaller though!). I now understand why Tamron was holding off on releasing that firmware update. I'd love to have that lock, the 70-300mm drives me nuts when I'm carrying it and it's extending by itself. Stabilization is a nice "to have".
Hi Christoph, very nice review as allways. Tamron's ability of close focus is great at 50mm, but what about 300mm? It would be great to add this information in tests of zooms. Please consider it. Thanks!
Rattling has been reported for many lenses that have built-in stabilization. When the camera is powered up, it goes away, which is a dead giveaway that it is the stabilizing elements that are rattling when unpowered. Nothing to see here. Also, I wish these tests could be done at closer-to-real-world distances. I'm not convinced that a test chart shot indoors at maybe 2-3m is representative of optical performance at greater distances. I have a report from a trusted source that this lens is noticeably sharper in the corners in real-world shots than the 70-300.
Been waiting for your review of this lens, and want to see your review of the 28-300. The good thing is that you use the same tests, so its easy to compare performance.
Can’t wait to see your testing on the new Tamron 90mm macro lens.❤
I didn't know there was a new one. Thanks for mentioning it. Hope Chris would be able to test it soon.
Been using it for around three weeks now. Other than the moving inner parts the only other downside i have on mine is a constant humming noise and the occasional loud autofocus. Id say image quality has been superb for my uses. Especially enjoyed it for Moon photography.
This humming noise is also in tamron 150-500, at first I was concerned, but 2 years later and still works perfectly fine ;d
Was looking for your review of this lens just yesterday but couldn’t find it unfortunately, now here it is! You’re the best, thanks!
The loose elements are what allow quick focusing and stabilization. The tradeoff for removing rattle is slower/less efficient operation.
Tamron:
Designs a telephoto lens.
Makes it sharp at the telephoto end.
Finally someone understood the f-ing assignment!
Tamron 40 years ago makes lens for all mounts, 40 years later does it for 1 mount
Unfortunately the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Lens for Sony E isn't as sharp at the telephoto end, but decent enough for me.
@@Exhaustscavenger They make lenses for Fuji and Nikon too. Sony gets the most and gets theirs first because they own 15% of Tamron.
Thanks Chris for the great review. I think for travel, buy such a compact lens together with 16-35 or 14-24 and you can cover a wide enough range, even for quite extravagant amateur needs.
looking forward to seeing the comparison between 28-300 and 50-300
Very good review 🙂
I have the recent Tamron 28-300mm and, for what it is, it's a great all-around walking lens. Like any zoom lens, the wider the focal range, the more compromises you tend to make, but I do believe its image quality is better than the Nikon 28-300mm on my older DSLRs. I can't say for sure, since I don't have that Nikon lens any longer, but that's my general impression. I'd be interested in seeing a matchup between the Tamron 28-300mm and this 50-300mm.
Overall looks very good.
Lovely review 🙏
Good review - as always - but a not so convincing performance of the lens that does not justifies the price. I would like to see a Sigma DC DN Contemporary (APC lens) starting at 50mm and going up to 250mm or 300mm. The aperture at the shorter end should be between f/2.8 and f/4.5 and at the long end between f/2.8 and f/6.3 to match the compactness of the Sigma 10-18mm f/2,8 DC DN and Sigma 18-50mm f/2,8 DC DN. Also the same image quality, build quality and finish of those two lenses would make such a lens a perfect addition for landscape and travel photographers. The options Tamron and Sony are offering are bigger, heavier, have a darker aperture, some of that lenses do not match the image quality of the Sigmas and some of them are much more expensive than the Sigma. So please Sigma, make such a telephoto zoom lens. And if so hopefully reviewed by Christopher Frost. The guy doing the best lens reviews on UA-cam. I thought about to buy the Tamron, but after your review I wont. And I appreciate, that such honest reviews exist in 2024 so I can make a more sophisticated decision.
Looks like a great landscape lens on both FF and crop. Leave it at f/8 and shoot away!
I don't know for Tamron, but for Canon, rattling lens elements can be normal, it's usually image stabilizer assembly.
What happens is if you unmount the lens while the camera is on, the IS assembly isn't parked, in this case you'll want to shut the camera off and wait a few seconds for the elements to park. And in this case near to no rattling.
It can be IS but it also can be the focusing mechanism if the lens uses linear motors. In that case the focusing elements are on rails and they are free floating if not turned on or if there is no parking mechanism. Typical for Fuji lenses for example (like 33mm f/1.4 which doesn't have IS).
@@quikee9195 totally agree, which means it's not really a quality issue but it's just how many modern lenses behave
We need a APS-C version of this! Currently APS-C seriously lacks high quality lightweight telephoto zoom.
Nikon Z 50-250 is absolutely awesome if you have an APS-C Nikon.
Unfortunately, at 300mm+ there is almost no room for saving weight or size with smaller sensors, they don't make such zooms because it's not profitable, the Sony 70-350 is the best you can get and probably nothing better will ever be made.
That is the 28-200 i guess. Which translate to 42 to 300mm
Not bad for a lens like that. It'll get the job done. For some parent taking photos at the sidelines of their kids' game that's useful.
Considering how good this lens 50-300mm lens is from Tamron in the corners from F6.3 to F11 in FF or F8 in APS-C, I can guess that Tamron's new 100-400mm is also very sharp at 400mm.
Heavier and larger than the tamron 28-300, although you get a wider aperture at the long end (6.3 vs 7.1) I wonder how it compares throughout the zoom range.
Please review the Voigtlander ultra wide set - 10mm, 12mm, 15mm :)
I own the older Tamron 70-300 (with the latest firmware installed just today) In your opinion, would it be worth trading up to this new 50-300; would I gain enough of an IQ bump up to offset the slight weight/size increase and the slight decrease in light gathering . I am using it primarily on an a6700 and and an a7c.Thank you Christopher for your enjoyable videos.
Where I am the 70-300 is less than half the price of this new lens and I can't really fault mine. It is exceedingly portable compared to other teles and it performs well enough for me, except 70-90mm corners. It has pretty nice bokeh at 300mm just like this lens seems to have. It also has a kind of sunstars at f/9.
@@Vantrakter I agree with you. The most annoying thing about the 70-300 is the lack of a lock switch. I do love the lightness of the lens even on a smaller camera body.
@@Vantrakter yes, it's half the price most places I think. I have it too, and agree with you.
Hey! I think you've watched my video about the firmware update?! I'm working on the full length video now.
@@chryseass.5143 I just commented about that lock as well, it's the only think that makes me a little crazy with the 70-300.
7:27 300mm f/1 ?! That must be a some sort of record!
Damn this is a killer
Do review 28-75mm 2.8 z mount lens.
Is it a big enough upgrade over their 70-300 in terms of image quality? - my biggest frustration with the 70-300 is lack of OIS though.
I found IBIS pretty effective on my a7RIII with the 70-300 so didn't really miss IS in the lens. It seems that Sony doesn't sync IBIS with IS in third-party lenses, so I'm not sure whether adding IS to the 50-300 is going to make much difference with Sony bodies. I replaced my 70-300 with this 50-300 because I can combine it with my 20-40 for a two-lens walkabout kit that covers my desired zoom range. Also, Dustin Abbott has reported that in real-world images the 50-300 shows sharper corners at the wide end, possibly thanks to less focal plane curvature.
@@HappeningPhotos Interesting, coming from a Fuji 50-230mm the 70-300mm feels sooo unstable with IBIS on my ZV-E1 which I believe has similar IBIX to the A7RIII, I hope someone does a comparison but if the IS doesn't sync with IBIS, you're right, probably not worth it for the IS alone.
Hello Cristopher, I have a question I'm using Canon EOS 250d and I'm mostly shooting birds and wildlife photopgraphy, with my cheap tamron 70-300 LD Di Macro but this lens doesn't have an IS or OS and image quality is not the best I have 2 alternatives Canon EF 70-300mm F4-5,6 IS II NANO USM or CANON 100-400 F4.5-6.3 L Mark 1 İS USM LENS (Used) what would you recommend? and if anyone has suggesstion I'm up for it...
Is it compatible with Micro four thirds?
The image quality is very similar to the Sony FE 70-300 OSS.
Tamron goes a bit wider though but the Sony is a bit brighter.
Autofocus on the Tamron is (much) better and it's also a fair bit lighter (nearly 200 gr).
Overall seems like a decent lens but a bit pricey at the moment (+900 euro)
Rattling inside when not powered on, is from stabilisation system inside.
I wished there is a battle between zoom lenses : 50-300 Tamron, 50-250 Nikon, 50-210 Sony etc...
Looks like the older 70-300 is the better option here at almost half the price and being sharper at the shorter focal lengths. I think tamron have overreached on the zoom range here they should concentrate on optical perfection rather than overreaching on zoom range. I would rather have a 100-300 with superb optical performance than have this with average optical performance.
How does this compare to the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A2 VC VXD?
seems to be much sharper at telephoto end which is often an issue with these long zoom ranges
That is a APS-C lens so it won't cover a full frame sensor
Goooood eeeeevening
still waiting for Tamron 90/2.8 Macro
Ok, still over 100g heavier than the 70-300mm lol. I've mentioned in a video about the new firmware update for the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Lens for Sony E is still the world's lightest lens in the range (this looks smaller though!). I now understand why Tamron was holding off on releasing that firmware update. I'd love to have that lock, the 70-300mm drives me nuts when I'm carrying it and it's extending by itself. Stabilization is a nice "to have".
Part of that weight was due to Vc tho, and unless you use some stabilizer even for photos it’s imo a weight that must be paid
I can't wait for the Z-mount rebranded to Nikon and 50% more expensive version of this lens.
Hi Christoph, very nice review as allways. Tamron's ability of close focus is great at 50mm, but what about 300mm? It would be great to add this information in tests of zooms. Please consider it. Thanks!
I joked about it a year + ago (whose going to make a 35mm-500mm) we are getting closer!! LMAO!
Rattling has been reported for many lenses that have built-in stabilization. When the camera is powered up, it goes away, which is a dead giveaway that it is the stabilizing elements that are rattling when unpowered. Nothing to see here.
Also, I wish these tests could be done at closer-to-real-world distances. I'm not convinced that a test chart shot indoors at maybe 2-3m is representative of optical performance at greater distances. I have a report from a trusted source that this lens is noticeably sharper in the corners in real-world shots than the 70-300.
Is this a Tamron design?
?
Yes, this Tamron lens is a Tamron design.
That question is most appropriately applied to "Nikon" lenses.
Colour rendering seems flat.
Nothing to do with the lens.
Are there telephoto zooms without flat rendering?
@@PatrickWithCamera new nikkor S zooms looks quite nice
Weak VR, great image quality, works on Z6 with ETZ21.