Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
What Buyers Say
Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
The Samyang 16mm f/2.0 manual focus lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, micro-contrast, and image quality, especially given its affordable price. Users love it for landscape and astrophotography, praising the fast f/2.0 aperture and solid build, though many note it is quite large and heavy on APS-C bodies. Manual focus is generally well-accepted for static subjects but challenging for moving ones. A few buyers were surprised by its size due to misleading product images but still found the optical performance excellent.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Great micro-contrast and rendering
- Fast f/2.0 aperture
- Solid build quality
- Excellent for landscapes and astro
Cons
- Large and heavy on APS-C
- Challenging for moving subjects
- Manual focus only (no AF confirm chip on some)
- Misleading product images (size mismatch)
- Not ideal for full frame (vignetting)
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
| Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 16 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 20 |
| Groups | 11 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | UMC | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.58 kg★ | 0.59 kg |
| Filter Thread | 77 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 200 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:2.8★ |
Pros & Cons
Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
- Strong macro (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong optical (78th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average bokeh (19th percentile)19th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd 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
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 9 of 21 specs.