Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3

Tamron
84 Overall Score
vs
Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 200-28mm

Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 200-28mm

Panasonic
87 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3

85 out of 100 high confidence 33 reviews

The Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is widely praised for its versatile zoom range, sharp image quality, and excellent value for money. Users highlight its usefulness for wildlife, sports, and travel photography, though some note it is heavier than expected and the maximum aperture limits low-light performance. A few Sony users reported issues with image stabilization when paired with certain camera bodies, but overall sentiment is very positive.

Pros
  • Versatile 50-400mm zoom range
  • Sharp image quality
  • Excellent value for money
  • Good build quality
  • Fast and quiet autofocus
Cons
  • Heavier than expected
  • Limited low-light performance due to small aperture
  • Image stabilization issues with some Sony bodies
  • Lens collar not included
  • A bit dark compared to faster lenses
👍 Zoom range versatility 12
👍 Image quality sharpness 14
👍 Value for money 10
👍 Build quality 8
🤔 Weight and portability 9
👎 Low light performance 5

Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 200-28mm

75 out of 100 medium confidence 10 reviews

The Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. lens is widely praised for its compact size, versatile zoom range, and macro capability, making it an ideal travel companion. Users appreciate the optical stabilization and the convenience of not swapping lenses, though some note softness at extreme ends and a slow aperture. Overall, it's a solid all-in-one solution for outdoor and travel photography.

Pros
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Versatile zoom range (28-200mm)
  • Macro capability
  • Effective optical stabilization
  • Convenient all-in-one travel lens
Cons
  • Soft at wide and telephoto ends
  • Slow maximum aperture (f/4-7.1)
  • Not ideal for low light without stabilization
  • Requires stopping down for sharpness
👍 Compactness 5
👍 Versatility 4
🤔 Image quality 4
👎 Aperture speed 4
👍 Stabilization 3
👍 Macro capability 2

Scores

Macro
Tamron
91
Panasonic
96
Budget
Tamron
87
Panasonic
90
Landscape
Tamron
82
Panasonic
90
Travel
Tamron
71
Panasonic
87
Video Cinema
Tamron
71
Panasonic
86
Wildlife Sports
Tamron
82
Panasonic
77
Portrait
Tamron
71
Panasonic
81
Professional
Tamron
72
Panasonic
80
Street
Tamron
70
Panasonic
79

Specifications

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 200-28mm
Optics
Typetelephotozoom
Focal Length Min50 mm28 mm
Focal Length Max400 mm200 mm
Elements2417
Groups1813
Aspherical Elements11
ED Elements—4★
CoatingBBAR-G2Fluorine coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/6.3f/4
Min Aperture4.5-6.34-7.1
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades99
Build
MountNikon ZL-Mount
Formatfull-framefull-frame
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight1.18 kg0.41 kg★
Filter Thread67 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeVXD linear motor★Autofocus
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—6.5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance250 mm140 mm★
Max Magnification1:2★0.5x

Pros & Cons

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3

  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong versatility (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong optical (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
  • Below average build (24th percentile)

Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 200-28mm

  • Strong stabilization (99th percentile)99th %ile
  • Strong versatility (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong optical (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong bokeh (80th percentile)80th %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (22nd percentile)

Verdict

═ Tie

Both products are closely matched - Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 wins 2 specs while Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 200-28mm wins 4.

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Better at:

Wildlife Sports

Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 200-28mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo Cinema