Tamron Di III 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm
What Buyers Say
Tamron Di III 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 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
AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm
This manual fisheye lens delivers a distinctive circular image with strong distortion that many users love for creative shots like skateboarding videos and travel photos. Build quality is praised as solid for the price, but compatibility issues on Canon mirrorless and full-frame cameras are a notable drawback. Focusing is tricky due to the manual-only design and narrow depth of field at wide apertures. Overall, it's a fun, affordable lens for those who understand its limitations.
Pros
- Solid build quality for the price
- Fun creative fisheye effect
- Compact and portable
- Good value for money
- Sharp image in center
Cons
- Manual focus only, tricky to use
- Compatibility issues with Canon mirrorless
- Small image circle on full-frame cameras
- No autofocus
- Cannot use lens filters
Scores
Specifications
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | fisheye |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 6 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 300 mm | 6 mm |
| Elements | 19 | 6 |
| Groups | 5 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 4★ | — |
| Coating | Fluorine Coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/2 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-6.3 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.62 kg | 0.27 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VXD | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 200 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Tamron Di III 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 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
- Below average social proof (15th percentile)15th %ile
AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm
- Strong bokeh (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong macro (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong build (71st percentile)
- Below average optical (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm offers 3.1x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 83 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
