Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm
The Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 lens for Fuji X mount receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its sharpness, fast and quiet autofocus, and excellent build quality at a budget price. A few users note the lack of an aperture ring and some corner softness, but most consider it a great value compared to the Fujifilm equivalent. One reviewer received a wrong hood, and another found it heavy and less sharp than the Viltrox 35mm Air lens.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Great build quality for the price
- Good value compared to Fujifilm
- Nice color rendering
Cons
- No aperture ring
- Slight corner softness
- Heavy for some users
- Received wrong hood
- Less sharp than Viltrox 35mm Air
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
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 9 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 9 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 19 |
| Groups | 11 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 3 | 4★ |
| Coating | Specialized Multi-Layer Coating Technology | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | — | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Fujifilm X | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.17 kg★ | 0.62 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM + Lead screw focus motor★ | VXD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 130 mm★ | 150 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.13 m | 1:2★ |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm
- Strong build (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong optical (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
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
Pricing
Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm offers 1.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 93 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
