Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
What Buyers Say
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
The Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is widely praised as a versatile all-in-one zoom for Sony APS-C cameras. Users love the incredible 16.6x range, close focusing at the wide end, and solid image quality, though some note softness beyond 70-80mm and slow autofocus. The lens is heavier than typical crop-sensor lenses but still considered portable. A few verified buyers report issues with sharpness at the telephoto end and a stiff zoom ring, but the majority find it an excellent walk-around lens that replaces multiple primes and zooms.
Pros
- Incredible 16.6x zoom range
- Close focusing at wide end (semi-macro)
- Good image quality and color rendition
- Solid build with weather sealing
- Effective vibration compensation (VC)
Cons
- Softness beyond 70-80mm
- Slow autofocus compared to smaller zooms
- Heavy and bulky for APS-C
- Stiff zoom ring when zooming out
- Moderate distortion at both ends
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
This manual lens is a fantastic budget option for Fuji X and Canon M mount users, praised for its solid metal build and sharpness at a very low price. Reviewers love the fun shooting experience and bokeh, though some note the optics are not top-tier and require practice. It's widely recommended as a great starter lens for hobbyists.
Pros
- Solid metal build quality
- Very affordable price
- Sharp images wide open
- Fun shooting experience
- Good bokeh
Cons
- Manual focus only
- Optics not top-tier
- Requires practice to use
- Not compatible with many Canon DSLRs
Scores
Specifications
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 300 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 19 | 8 |
| Groups | 5 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 4★ | — |
| Coating | Fluorine Coating | Multi-Layer Nano Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-6.3 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.62 kg | 0.22 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VXD | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 400 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
- Strong versatility (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong macro (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong stabilization (81st percentile)81st %ile
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
- Strong build (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm offers 1.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 93 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.
