Pentax DA 21880 18-55mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Pentax DA 21880 18-55mm
The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Zoom Lens is praised for its weather resistance, versatility, and good image quality, especially for daytime photography and low-light indoor use. Users appreciate its durability and value as a general-purpose kit lens, though some note it is optically just a kit lens with limitations in sharpness and speed. Delivery delays were mentioned but attributed to postal services, not the product itself.
Pros
- Weather resistant design
- Versatile for portrait and landscape
- Good image quality for kit lens
- Clear macro and wide-angle shots
- Vivid colors
Cons
- Optically just a kit lens
- Limited sharpness compared to better lenses
- Slower aperture (f/3.5-5.6)
- Delivery delays (postal service)
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
| Pentax DA 21880 18-55mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 11 | 20 |
| Groups | 8 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | — | 2★ |
| Coating | SP (Super Protect) coating | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | 22-38★ | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.23 kg★ | 0.59 kg |
| Filter Thread | 52 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 250 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.94 | 1:2.8 |
Pros & Cons
Pentax DA 21880 18-55mm
- Strong build (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Strong macro (75th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
- Below average stabilization (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 (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.