Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
What Buyers Say
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
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
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
The Laowa 180mm f/4.5 Ultra-Macro APO lens is highly praised for its sharpness, compact size, and lightweight design, especially compared to older Canon models. However, users note limitations with its autofocus, which is slow and has a minimum distance of 1.5m, and the lack of close AF for handheld macro work. A pleasant surprise is its image circle covering GFX sensors with only minor corner softness.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness and detail
- Lightweight and compact design
- 1.5:1 magnification ratio
- Surprising GFX sensor coverage
- Beautiful bokeh for macro
Cons
- Slow autofocus speed
- Minimum AF distance of 1.5m
- No close AF for handheld macro
- Manual focus needed for close range
- Tripod collar sold separately
Scores
Specifications
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD | Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | macro |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 180 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 300 mm | 180 mm |
| Elements | 20 | 12 |
| Groups | 13 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | fluorine coating | APO |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/32 |
| Min Aperture | 4-7.1 | f/4.5 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.59 kg | 0.52 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VXD linear motor★ | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 190 mm★ | 300 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:3.8 | 1.5:1★ |
Pros & Cons
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
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
- Strong macro (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong build (70th percentile)
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average bokeh (7th percentile)7th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD offers 4.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
