Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3

Tamron
84 Overall Score
vs
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic
95 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3

85 out of 100 high confidence 33 reviews

The Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is widely praised for its versatile zoom range, sharp image quality, and excellent value for money. Users highlight its usefulness for wildlife, sports, and travel photography, though some note it is heavier than expected and the maximum aperture limits low-light performance. A few Sony users reported issues with image stabilization when paired with certain camera bodies, but overall sentiment is very positive.

Pros
  • Versatile 50-400mm zoom range
  • Sharp image quality
  • Excellent value for money
  • Good build quality
  • Fast and quiet autofocus
Cons
  • Heavier than expected
  • Limited low-light performance due to small aperture
  • Image stabilization issues with some Sony bodies
  • Lens collar not included
  • A bit dark compared to faster lenses
👍 Zoom range versatility 12
👍 Image quality sharpness 14
👍 Value for money 10
👍 Build quality 8
🤔 Weight and portability 9
👎 Low light performance 5

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

92 out of 100 medium confidence 22 reviews

The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent optical performance, sturdy yet lightweight build, and fast autofocus. Users highlight its versatility as a workhorse zoom for both photo and video, with particular appreciation for the linear focus mode on compatible cameras. A few note the shallow depth of field is limited due to the Micro Four Thirds system, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.

Pros
  • Excellent optical performance
  • Sturdy yet lightweight build
  • Fast and reliable autofocus
  • Versatile zoom range
  • Linear focus mode for video
Cons
  • Limited shallow depth of field
  • Focus-by-wire system not linear
  • No built-in gear ring for cine use
  • Slight chromatic aberration in high contrast
👍 Optical performance 7
👍 Build quality 6
👍 Autofocus speed 5
👍 Versatility 4
👍 Video features 3
👎 Depth of field 2

Scores

Video Cinema
Tamron
71
Panasonic
100
Landscape
Tamron
82
Panasonic
95
Professional
Tamron
72
Panasonic
92
Macro
Tamron
91
Panasonic
76
Budget
Tamron
88
Panasonic
90
Portrait
Tamron
71
Panasonic
86
Travel
Tamron
71
Panasonic
83
Wildlife Sports
Tamron
82
Panasonic
78
Street
Tamron
70
Panasonic
82

Specifications

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
Optics
Typetelephotozoom
Focal Length Min50 mm12 mm
Focal Length Max400 mm35 mm
Elements2414
Groups189
Aspherical Elements14★
ED Elements—1★
CoatingBBAR-G2Nano Surface Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/6.3f/2.8
Min Aperture4.5-6.3f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades9★7
Build
MountNikon ZMicro Four Thirds
Formatfull-frame★micro-four-thirds
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight1.18 kg0.31 kg★
Filter Thread67 mm58 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeVXD linear motor★Autofocus
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance250 mm150 mm★
Max Magnification1:2★0.21x

Pros & Cons

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3

  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong versatility (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong optical (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
  • Below average build (24th percentile)

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong social proof (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile

Pricing

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm is $162 cheaper (1.2x less).

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.30.079score per dollar
vs
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm0.106score per dollar

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm offers 1.3x better value for money

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Scores 95 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.

Tamron Di III VXD 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Better at:

MacroWildlife Sports

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm Better at:

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo Cinema

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