Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD 300mm
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
What Buyers Say
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD 300mm
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
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
The Meike 85mm f/1.8 lens receives mixed feedback. Many users praise its sharpness, bokeh, and value for the price, especially for portrait and low-light photography. However, a significant number of reviewers report issues with autofocus noise, inconsistent autofocus performance, and even complete focus motor failure. Build quality concerns, such as a loose focus ring, are also mentioned, leading to a polarized sentiment where the lens is either loved for its image quality or criticized for reliability.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Great bokeh
- Excellent value for money
- Good for low-light photography
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Loud autofocus noise
- Inconsistent autofocus performance
- Focus motor failure reported
- Loose focus ring on some units
- Compatibility issues with some adapters
Scores
Specifications
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD 300mm | Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 300 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 19 | 11 |
| Groups | 5 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 4★ | — |
| Coating | Fluorine Coating | multi-coated on both sides, fingerprint- and oil-resistant coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-6.3 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.62 kg★ | — |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VXD | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 650 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:2★ | 0.17X |
Pros & Cons
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD 300mm
- Strong versatility (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong macro (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong social proof (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average build (31st percentile)
Pricing
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD 300mm
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 93 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.
