TAMRON - 16-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Nikon F Cameras - Black - B016N

Product Information

All test images are presented with no alteration in color, sharpness, contrast, or clarity except where indicated. Only small adjustments in exposure were made to test images. Gear used for this review and tests – Canon 7D and a Manfrotto 190 tripod. The IQ is very low at extreme zoom settings. I was comparing the 16mm with Tamron XR DiII SP 17-50mm which outperforms this superzoom at all apertures. At 300mm, it frames close to Canon EF-S 250mm, but the 5x times less expensive Cannon gives significantly sharper images at the same aperture settings. And the old Tamron SP is crispy sharp at 300mm! This superzoom is not even close.

At the wide-angle end, sharpness is very high, right to the corners from f/5.6. At 16mm (24mm equivalent) it's wider than any other superzoom. There's obvious barrel distortion and CA visible in this uncorrected image.

Things to Consider

Superzooms are not the best choice for bokeh fans, with modest maximum aperturesusually creating quitedeep depth-of-field.But with the Tamron's longer focal length, the narrower field-of-view gives good subject isolation, greatly enhancing the bokeh effect at 300mm, particularly at closer shooting distances.

For those looking for an all-in-one super-zoom DSLR lens, the Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro provides the best zoom range available, with a useful 24.8mm equivalent, and 18.8x optical zoom reach, zooming to 465mm equivalent. An added bonus of the lens is a rather impressive close focusing distance of 39cm, which provides very good macro results, far beyond what is expected from a super-zoom lens. So if you’re looking for a lens that you can take anywhere with you and will be suitable for almost any conditions you encounter then I can’t go past the Tamron 16–300 mm. I could have saved myself a lot of time and money if I had simply selected this lens as my only lens for the A65. As it is, I will probably sell my prime macro lens and my Sigma 70-300mm zoom. As a walk-around lens that covers a wide variety of shooting situations, this lens is the enthusiasts' dream lens.

Ease of Use

Chromatic aberration (CA) is never far away, and most prominent at shortest and longest focal lengths. It's very noticeable here around the rear wheel. 16mm, 1/200 sec, f/8, ISO 100, on Canon 7D. The Tamron 16-300mm comes with a hood as well as front and rear caps. It is considerably lighter than other lenses with a similar aperture and zoom range. At 3.9 inches long, it feels compact, too. However, it extends to nearly double the length when zoomed out. The lens feels very solid in hand and fits securely to the camera with no rattles or gaps. All of the on-lens controls are very crisp in their function and are well placed for easy no-look operation.

Compared to the previous Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD, the focal length range goes up, now spanning 16-300mm (24-450mm equivalent) with the extra width at the wide-angle end probably being the most useful. The 18.8x zoom ratio leads the class. As usual, the term 'macro' doesn't compare to a true macro lens, though the ability to frame a subject only 6cm (2.4 in) across is very handy. Basically, there's nothing much this lens can't have a pretty good go at, when traveling lightona typical day trip, and often beyond.

Tamron doesn’t go into a lot of detail on the subject of exactly how moisture-resistant the lens is, but there is a rubber skirt around the mount that should seal at least the join with the camera. Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro review – In use In the photo above, the Tamron 16-300mm is the lens in the middle. You can clearly see that it is easily the smallest of the three. It is not as bulky as the Canon nor as long. It fits nice and snuggly in your hand and is incredibly compact for a lens that offers so much in terms of its focal range. The Canon lens only has a focal range of 24-105mm yet is much bigger and bulkier than the Tamron. And when you attach the Canon lens to the body of your camera, you can definitely feel the difference. So much so that I have left the Canon lens at home at times simply because I knew I could get what I wanted from the Tamron and I didn't want to bother with the bulk of the Canon. The absolutely huge zoom range offered by this lens, hasn't compromised the size, with it having similar dimension to many 4x or 5x zooms lenses and it weighs only 540g. The low weight and compact size make this lens an ideal candidate as a walkabout lens for those times you may wish to travel light. It feels right at home on the Nikon D7100 body used for testing, and will make a good companion for smaller, more compact DSLR camera bodies as well. High quality plastics with a matte finish have been used for much of the construction of the lens barrel, and it feels reasonably robust as a result. A rubber gasket, located around the metal lens bayonet, will help to prevent the ingress of dust and moisture into the camera body. Other users were happy because of the solid build and the weather sealing that makes it usable in rainy conditions. On the flip side, many users claim this camera feels cumbersome compared to similar lenses.

Finally at 300mm, overall performance is reduced a little, but the lens still holds up very well, especially when the huge zoom range is taken into consideration. At f/6.3, sharpness approaches very good levels in the centre of the frameand is fairly good towards the edges. The performance towards the edges of the frame doesn't improve by much with stopping down, but sharpness does reach excellent levels in the centre between f/8 and f/11. The Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6/3 offers a uniquely huge 18.8x zoom range, performs well, delivers good value for money and has impressive close up focus performance making this an ideal travel zoom lens. Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro vs Nikon AF-S DX 18-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR vs Nikon AF-S DX 18-300mm f3.5-6.3G ED VR: Nikon options just have the edge Getting through the maze of lenses can seem like a fulltime job for the unaccustomed buyer. With hundreds of designs and models, how do you know which model is right for you? Here are a few factors to consider during your search: Image stabilizationThe build of the lens seems solid enough, and there’s not too much wobble when the three-part barrel is fully extended. The supplied hood is a little squidgy, but that flexibility may well protect it from breaking when under pressure.