Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
Tamron
100 Overall Score
vs
Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
Pentax
50 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
92 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews
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
Build quality 3
Sharpness 3
Aperture 2
Weight and portability 3
Zoom range 4
Autofocus performance 1
Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Macro
Budget
Landscape
Portrait
Professional
Wildlife Sports
Travel
Street
Video Cinema
Specifications
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm | Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 300 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 20 | 16 |
| Groups | 13 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | fluorine coating | HD Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4-7.1 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Pentax K |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.59 kg★ | 0.71 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VXD linear motor★ | PLM (Pulse Motor) |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 190 mm★ | 300 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.8★ | 0.24x |
Pros & Cons
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
Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
- Strong optical (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Verdict
Winner: Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.