Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is widely praised for its ultra-compact size, lightweight design, and excellent value, making it a favorite for street photography and travel. Users note it turns a full-frame camera into a highly portable setup, though the fixed f/4.5 aperture and lack of manual focus ring are limiting for some. Image quality is considered good for the price, but low-light performance and autofocus in dim conditions are common drawbacks. A few users reported a stuck rear lens cap or battery drain on certain Sony models, but overall sentiment is positive for its intended casual use.
Pros
- Ultra-compact and lightweight design
- Excellent value for the price
- Great for street photography and travel
- Sharp image quality for its class
- Built-in lens cover
Cons
- Fixed f/4.5 aperture
- No manual focus ring
- Poor low-light autofocus
- Battery drain on Sony A5100
- Stuck rear lens cap issue
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
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 20 |
| Groups | 6 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | nano multi-coating | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | L-Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.08 kg★ | 0.59 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VCM | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 420 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.11X | 1:2.8★ |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
- Strong build (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average social proof (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
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
Pricing
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 95 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
