Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
What Buyers Say
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
The Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC manual focus lens is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and outstanding performance in astrophotography. Users note that it requires patience and practice to master manual focusing, especially at f/2, but the image quality rivals much more expensive lenses. The build is solid but heavy, and it lacks weather sealing and electronic communication with the camera. Despite these drawbacks, it is considered a fantastic value for photographers who can work with manual focus.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Solid build quality
- Great value for money
Cons
- Heavy weight
- No autofocus
- No weather sealing
- No electronic communication with camera
- Stiff focus ring initially
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm
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
Scores
Specifications
| Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 135 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 11 | 20 |
| Groups | 7 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Ultra Multi-Coating | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.82 kg | 0.59 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 77 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 800 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:2.8★ |
Pros & Cons
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average build (21st percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
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 (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
Pricing
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD 300mm offers 3.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 21 specs.
