TTArtisan AF 40mm f/2 40mm
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
What Buyers Say
TTArtisan AF 40mm f/2 40mm
The TTArtisan 40mm f/2.0 pancake lens receives mixed feedback from users. While many praise its compact metal build, satisfying aperture ring, and excellent value for the price, significant issues with autofocus performance—including hunting, pulsing, and noise—are frequently mentioned. Image quality is generally good, but users note heavy vignetting and flare when shooting into strong light. Overall, it is seen as a budget-friendly option with trade-offs in AF reliability.
Pros
- Compact metal build
- Satisfying aperture ring
- Excellent value for money
- Good image quality
- Fast f/2.0 aperture for low light
Cons
- Poor autofocus performance
- Loud autofocus motor
- Heavy vignetting
- Flare when shooting into light
- Occasional misconnection with camera
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
| TTArtisan AF 40mm f/2 40mm | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 40 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 40 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 9 | 19 |
| Groups | 6 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 3★ |
| ED Elements | — | 4★ |
| Coating | — | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/2 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.18 kg★ | 0.62 kg |
| Filter Thread | 52 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM Stepping AF Motor★ | VXD |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 400 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:2★ |
Pros & Cons
TTArtisan AF 40mm f/2 40mm
- Strong build (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 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
Pricing
TTArtisan AF 40mm f/2 40mm offers 1.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 93 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
