7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
What Buyers Say
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm
This 7artisans 18mm f/6.3 lens is a tiny, all-metal pancake that delivers a filmic, character-rich look rather than clinical sharpness. Users love its compact size and hyperfocal ease for street photography, but note soft focus, strong vignetting, low contrast, and compatibility quirks with IBIS systems. A few report severe quality control issues making the lens unusable, while most see it as a fun, creative tool for the price.
Pros
- Extremely compact and lightweight
- Solid all-metal construction
- Filmic, character-rich image quality
- Hyperfocal ease for street photography
- Great value for the price
Cons
- Soft focus at all distances
- Strong vignetting
- Low contrast
- Compatibility issues with IBIS
- Severe quality control problems
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
The Tamron 28-300mm super-zoom wins praise for its lightweight design, versatile focal range, and solid image quality. Users appreciate the compact build and smooth zoom mechanism, but note the slow aperture and trade-offs in sharpness compared to more expensive zooms. Verified reviewers find it an ideal travel lens that pairs well with Sony bodies.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Versatile 28-300mm focal range
- Smooth zoom ring operation
- Compact build for travel
- Good integration with Sony bodies
Cons
- Small maximum aperture (f/4-7.1)
- Reduced sharpness vs. premium zooms
- Not an internal zoom lens
- Slow autofocus at high fps on some bodies
Scores
Specifications
| 7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 20 |
| Groups | 5 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 3★ |
| ED Elements | — | 2★ |
| Coating | — | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/6.3 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/6.3 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | — | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.06 kg★ | 0.59 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 300 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:2.8★ |
Pros & Cons
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm
- Strong build (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong macro (69th percentile)
- Strong social proof (66th percentile)
- Below average optical (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
- Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
Pricing
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm offers 7.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 21 specs.
