Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is widely praised for its ultra-compact size, lightweight design, and excellent value, making it a favorite for street photography and travel. Users note it turns a full-frame camera into a highly portable setup, though the fixed f/4.5 aperture and lack of manual focus ring are limiting for some. Image quality is considered good for the price, but low-light performance and autofocus in dim conditions are common drawbacks. A few users reported a stuck rear lens cap or battery drain on certain Sony models, but overall sentiment is positive for its intended casual use.
Pros
- Ultra-compact and lightweight design
- Excellent value for the price
- Great for street photography and travel
- Sharp image quality for its class
- Built-in lens cover
Cons
- Fixed f/4.5 aperture
- No manual focus ring
- Poor low-light autofocus
- Battery drain on Sony A5100
- Stuck rear lens cap issue
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 AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 19 |
| Groups | 6 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 4★ |
| Coating | multilayer nanocoating | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.06 kg★ | 0.62 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 350 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:10 | 1:2 |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm
- Strong build (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
- Strong versatility (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong macro (87th percentile)87th %ile
Pricing
Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm offers 4.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
