Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
What Buyers Say
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
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
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
The Meike 85mm f/1.8 lens receives mixed feedback. Many users praise its sharpness, bokeh, and value for the price, especially for portrait and low-light photography. However, a significant number of reviewers report issues with autofocus noise, inconsistent autofocus performance, and even complete focus motor failure. Build quality concerns, such as a loose focus ring, are also mentioned, leading to a polarized sentiment where the lens is either loved for its image quality or criticized for reliability.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Great bokeh
- Excellent value for money
- Good for low-light photography
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Loud autofocus noise
- Inconsistent autofocus performance
- Focus motor failure reported
- Loose focus ring on some units
- Compatibility issues with some adapters
Scores
Specifications
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD | Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 300 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 20 | 11 |
| Groups | 13 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | fluorine coating | multi-coated on both sides, fingerprint- and oil-resistant coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 4-7.1 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.59 kg★ | — |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VXD linear motor★ | STM |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 190 mm★ | 650 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | 0.17X |
Pros & Cons
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
- Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average build (31st percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 21 specs.
