Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 CF APO 25mm

Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 CF APO 25mm

Laowa
36 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Tamron
100 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 CF APO 25mm

85 out of 100 low confidence 5 reviews

This lens is highly praised for its superb optics and build quality, especially given its price-to-performance ratio. Users find it a keeper among cheap f/0.95 lenses, with excellent sharpness and handling. However, a few drawbacks are noted: significant vignetting wide open, lack of electronic contacts for EXIF, and a click-less aperture ring that can be accidentally bumped. Overall, it meets expectations for those seeking top-notch performance on Micro Four Thirds.

Pros
  • Superb optics
  • Excellent build quality
  • Great price-to-performance ratio
  • Sharp wide open
  • Good handling
Cons
  • Significant vignetting wide open
  • No electronic contacts for EXIF
  • Click-less aperture ring can be bumped
👍 Optics quality 4
👍 Build quality 3
👍 Value for money 2
👎 Vignetting 1
👎 Electronic contacts 1
👎 Aperture ring 1

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

92 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews

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
👍 Build quality 3
🤔 Sharpness 3
👎 Aperture 2
👍 Weight and portability 3
👍 Zoom range 4
👎 Autofocus performance 1

Scores

Budget
Laowa
30
Tamron
97
Macro
Laowa
37
Tamron
92
Landscape
Laowa
36
Tamron
87
Wildlife Sports
Laowa
24
Tamron
85
Professional
Laowa
38
Tamron
85
Street
Laowa
36
Tamron
83
Portrait
Laowa
42
Tamron
82
Video Cinema
Laowa
38
Tamron
82
Travel
Laowa
22
Tamron
81

Specifications

Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 CF APO 25mmTamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
Optics
Typeprimezoom
Focal Length Min25 mm28 mm
Focal Length Max25 mm300 mm
Elements1420
Groups913
Aspherical Elements13★
ED Elements12★
CoatingAPOfluorine coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/11f/4
Min Aperturef/0.954-7.1
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades99
Build
MountFujifilm XSony E
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed—✓★
Weight0.57 kg★0.59 kg
Filter Thread62 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF Typemanual focus onlyVXD linear motor★
Stabilization✗✓★
Focus
Min Focus Distance340 mm190 mm★
Max Magnification0.15x1:3.8★

Pros & Cons

Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 CF APO 25mm

  • Strong optical (74th percentile)
  • Below average social proof (3rd percentile)3rd %ile
  • Below average af (13th percentile)13th %ile
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong optical (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile

Pricing

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD is $160 cheaper (1.7x less).

Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 CF APO 25mm0.090score per dollar
vs
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD0.418score per dollar

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD offers 4.6x better value for money

Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 CF APO 25mm

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Verdict

★ Winner: Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 21 specs.

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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