I don’t know my version is awesome. It’s takes really sharp and clean pictures. It’s a very versatile lens that does a lot. For what it does, it’s not to big or heavy of a lens and it’s fun if you are traveling on foot most of the day and don’t want many lenses to carry around. One camera, Tamron 18-300mm lens can do so produce so much different shot, especially on a Fuji XT5. I love the Tamron 18-300mm. I take this lens and one good wide and fast lens for night pictures on my travels and I’m set.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Ай бұрын

I'm sure mine was faulty, too many people share experiences like yours

Thanks for making this video Luca, I also have the FUJI 18-80 and the FUJI 70-300 so you were the perfect reviewer. My FUJI 70-300 exceeded my expectation so many times, I think i'll will take something a lot more special to kick him out! But its always interesting to see what new things are ocming out. Thanks again.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

10 ай бұрын

Thank you

You just saved me a lot of money, because I was in the same mindset as you.. I really wanted to love the lens. Thank you!

I know this video is a year old, but thank you for making it. I was about to purchase one, and then i came across this honest video. So i will spend more time looking and figuring out what i need for my little a6000, and just for random trips

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

4 ай бұрын

Consider that I may have gotten a bad copy, so don't take my video as the final word

@Meg_A_Byte

17 күн бұрын

I have the a6000 and I think this lens has absolutely great image quality.

I'm returning it too. Was pulling my hair out for two months...E-mount. Thanks for your observations, they match to the point.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

2 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

I have been using Tamron 18-300 on Sony A7R3 for a few months and really enjoy using it overall. The weakness of this lens seems to be not performing very well in a low-light situation. That's what I found a key weakness of this lens.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I expect a lens like this not to be at its best in low light ... It is all the rest that didn't convince me, and this is probably why I think I had bad copy

Thank you for highlighting this up, and I am going to xf70-300.

@malfunkt

Жыл бұрын

The 70-300 is excellent. Try both if you have a chance though. The Tamron 18-300 and 17-70 both got new firmwares recently that solved some issues I was having.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

You'll see what a lens the 70-300 is. It really punches above its weight.

I've been considering this as an all-purpose, walk-around lens to replace my Sony 70-300. The Sony is good, but not wide enough for many scenarios. I'm not so much a pixel peeper, so I don't know if I will have the same level of expectation as you have. I have also considered the Sony 18-105 constant f/4, but with the extra 200mm reach, the 18-300 has been on my mind. I appreciate your commentary on this lens, and will have to make serious considerations to whether or not I purchase.

Thank you. You just confirmed what I was thinking.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Ай бұрын

Again, my copy may have been a lemon... Try it if you can, and then decide

Excellent review. I had a similar issue with my Fuji 70-300. All reviews were praising this lens but mine was as flat as a pancake. I sent it back to Fuji under warranty and they carried out a complete factory re-calibration. The lens is now much better but still dodgy at 300mm. Luca, you are right! I bought the lens for what it could achieve at the highest focal length and was expecting too much!

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing

I got this for my A6700 to fill the role that my Rx10m3 had - great travel camera. It is not as good as my Tamron 50-400mm on my A7 m4, but it is still pretty sharp. At "fit-to-screen" on a large monitor my shot of a navy ship on my A6700 looks better than the one from the A7m4. If you go 1:1 the full frame lens resolves more detail. On small birds and animals in poor light, The Tamron 18-300 was quite acceptable especially after post. Not as good as full-frame but that is not the fault of the lens. You must have gotten a bad copy or you live by pixel-peeping.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

8 ай бұрын

I'm leaning towards the bad copy. I'm not a pixel peeper, and a lens like this has to be a compromise. But this one went way below my expectations and since most of the people think differently... It must have been my copy

A superbly offered review! Thank you SO much. I am "just like you" but not as professional. Still, I already own great lenses for the wide to mid focal lengths. I'll resign myself to haul a second lens (in my bicycle pannier) for catching wildlife; i.e., 70-300mm or similar for an APS-C camera. Yes, sharpness trumps all other virtues, in a lens! Your review is unique for its frankness... in my experience. All the other reviews suppressed your fair complaint on "distal acuity." Bravo. And your English is superb as well.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

11 ай бұрын

Thank you a lot

Good to see you Luca, this is not going to be one of my long comments, this is just to let you know that I watched the video and to thank you for taking the time to make it. I’m sure that the Sigmas and Tamrons of today are much better than when I tried them many moons ago (they were really bad) but I prefer native lenses. Be well and stay safe.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I prefer native lenses as well, but I wanted to give it a try as sometimes I want to be faithful... It didn't go well this time, but next week's video will probably be (spoiler alert) on a completely different mood

I have a xh2 and i love this lens.

I had a feeling this lens would not satisfy you Luca! As an owner of this lens I can understand your criticism. I've owned both the 16-80 and 70-300 prior and those are great, with the 70-300 being stellar. There are a number of issues I have with this lens. I get periodic 'blackouts' when zooming, a bit annoying and will take this up with Tamron. Sometimes the OIS doesn't quite work especially noticeable on the telephoto range, and I need to quickly powercycle the lens. Focus is also not as good as the Fujifilm. Global image quality is not as good either. However, I have been able to get many great shots with this lens, even at night and at the telephoto range. It can actually be quite sharp in the center, and I know Dustin Abbott did a fair review of this lens and he is quite critical as you are. So perhaps there is some copy variations. In a moon test at 300mm I got quite excellent results that were actually quite close to the XF70-300mm. The Tamron is of course worse in the corners at its longest range whereas the 70-300mm holds up throughout the range. The 16-80 I felt was good but the F4 was its limitation. At that point, the Tamron isn't too far behind, plus gives you that extra reach. When it comes to a zoom, I'm definitely willing to make compromises, quite a bit, just to have an all-in-one tool. The focal range is truly the strength here and it can take great photos. I can work with or around the compromises. But I'm still confident enough in this lens that I could take it solely with me on an excursion and be creative with it. Or bring along another prime of your choice and know you have most situations covered. I also compared this with some superzoom bridge cameras. In that regard it is comparable and in some cases worse than Lumix FZ1000 or FZ300 (even at 12mb)! I'm sure the RX10 series actually would even be better. But the Tamron 18-300 is for APC-S and has a manual zoom action So yes, not a perfect lens. But still a good tool providing you aren't pixel peeping. Going to hold on to it, as I'm tired of looking for the ideal zoom, just going to use what I have. I may have kept my 70-300 though had I known of some of these issues, but the shorter focal lengths have come in handy many times.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to write what you think. I hope my lens was a bad sample, I really do. But since I'm paying with my own money, I can't keep trying. For all the rest, I perfectly understand what you say, and that would have been my main reason to have this lens. I was ready for mediocrity if that makes sense. But I wasn't ready for going below that, and the feeling of not knowing whether I was gonna get a decent image quality or not would have killed my will to shoot... And this is exactly what happened when I took it for a hike with the X-H2... I was reviewing shots and I was getting frustrated. I wasn't willing to put up with that. That being said, if yours is better, I'd strongly recommended to hold on tight to it, as it is definitely a convenient lens

@malfunkt

Жыл бұрын

@@LucaPetraliaPhotography Hi Luca, I just learned that Tamron put out some new firmware. I updated from 2.0 to version 3.0 for my 18-300. It fixed some issues I was having including the intermittent blackout when zooming too fast. Apparently, some image stabilization issues have been ironed out as well. So good to see and made my morning. Do you recall what version your was?

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

To be honest I didn't check, and I already prepared the package. See what I expect from a firmware upgrade is solving minor issues, and the image quality i was getting even with manual focus and stabilization off wasn't acceptable and I don't think it could change with a firmware upgrade

@9Mtikcus

Жыл бұрын

This lens interests me, like many bridge cameras do.. but I have my doubts. I am not particularly a wildlife photographer, or a street photographer. (pretty much a portrait and art guy) I like the idea of going and taking great wildlife photos but, i have used the XF 100-400 and I don't want to carry it, so the 70-300 and the tamron 18-300 are appealing especially if you pair a Xt30 with the tamron, the kit costs the same as a 1" Sony RX10. I shoot mostly primes (well mostly 1 prime) although I have added the sigma 56 F/1.4 to the mix and that is a fantastic lens for my needs. I have the original 10-24 F/4 which i use mostly for video and the 16-80 F/4. I've never been 100% happy with the 16-80 for photos. Kind of wish the 16-80 did not have zoom creep and had a lock as gravity or movement changes the focal length so easy, making it unusable on a gimble (if the 18-120 was an F/2.8 i'd buy in a heartbeat) but it is solid for video on a tripod. Now back on topic, I am going to sit and wait, and see what is released, then if nothing interests me, I may just get the 70-300, especially if an ideal bridge camera is not released

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

For wildlife get the 70-300, is better in both image quality and autofocus

Hey man thanks for the review. Like you, I also wish that this is the one lens to rull all :) I do streetphotography with 85mm viltrox 1.8 but for travelling as well as some subjects further away this lens sounds like a gold mine. So far all reviews I read are conflicting which leads me to think that the quality of each lens is different. This makes it even a harder decision to make a purchase

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I know, it sucks. At least with Amazon you can return it if it's not good. I'd like to test another copy for myself as well, I may end up pulling the trigger again in the future

I really want to love this lens, but I agree completely it really struggles when at a long focal length, the pictures are just not sharp and are blurred. It's quite disappointing, I am thinking of trading it in to get the 70-300.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

Well, with the Tamron copy I had the difference in image quality between the two lenses is beyond huge. To me it's a no brainier, the 70-300 is an excellent lens

I'm so sad you had this experience. I was similarly disappointed with Sony 18-135 for my A6000, which had front focus issue and I had to return it. After that I recently stumbled upon the Tamron 18-300 and got that, and it surpassed my expectations. The only downside is weak low-light autofocus performance. I noticed in the comments you mention it might have been a bad copy and as I found out myself, this does sometimes happen.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

17 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing. I really hope mine was a bad sample

I had nothing but problems with this Tamron Lens on my Sony 6700. I kept on having an error focusing where the camera would not focus and I had to take the battery out and reset it

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

2 күн бұрын

That's even worse than my experience

Got one keeping it BUT got a Canon 55-250stm. Compared to the Tamron.. wow its so sharp here I thought the Tamron was sharp. lol. I am NEW to this so

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

8 ай бұрын

It is normal that a super zoom lens loses compared to a more reasonable zooming range lens, even if cheap. At the end of the day it's a game of trade offs

Is this mean I should just go with the Sony a7RV with Tamron 50-400 which is similar range but seem like this one has good performance? Any similar range EOF lens for Panasonic Lumix MFT?

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

7 ай бұрын

I'm not expert in MFT lenses honestly. I would not be a good help. As for the 50-400, although long, it doesn't have the same wide angle range. This means that is not a universal lens like the 18-300 is supposed to be.

I agree completely with this review. I have the Fuji 100-400 and the 16-55, and was hoping that the Tamron would be a good walk-around single lens lightweight compromise. But you hit it on the head - it's not capable of resolving even at 26MP on my X-S10, and I'm returning it. Pity because I also liked the look and feel and weight (and price!).

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I hear you... It's a big disappointment

Thanks for the video. Clear message that it is inferior to XF 18-80mm or XF 18-120mm.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Ай бұрын

With my copy of the lens... Definitely

I can only fully agree with the review. My lens was also extremely blurry. I think TAMRON has a big problem with quality control. Other testers had similar problems at first and then got a new lens from TAMRON which was then fine.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

The issue is... If have to buy it again, I don't want to shoot in the dark. I'd love to give it a try again, but not if I can't test it for myself first

I bought this lens a few months ago. After running it on my Sony A6700 my experience is completely different. The lens is super sharp. At 250-300 range it looses some contrast and sharpness, but these are easily recoverable in Lightroom. It is a hefty lens for an APSC but the range and IQ are spot on.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

5 ай бұрын

That's why I say my copy may have been sub par. To be honest I must say the frustration came more on the 40mp sensor that the 26, so on the A6700 having a lower megapixel sensor helps. But again, I think my copy was bad

Great for someone to speak out .I was looking for an older Sony 18-135mm lens for travel . Wonder will it be worst for my A7cr 61mp to resolve? If anyone care for a comment.Thanks

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

6 ай бұрын

Those are both apsc lenses, they won't cover the entirety of the sensor size

I truly saw another video which reviewed similar lens and his photos and videos at all the focal lengths were pretty good and shar. Probably you should let the company check the lens for you.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

4 ай бұрын

I returned it via Amazon. And never have it another chance, but I may in the future

@JoshConnectMedia

4 ай бұрын

@@LucaPetraliaPhotography Probably your settings might have had sth off or just the lens might have an issue.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

4 ай бұрын

@@JoshConnectMedia I'm sure it wasn't the settings, most likely my lens wasn't a good one

It's interesting, can it be a bad calibration case or just a "price" for such a wide range? I'm not an optical specialist, so i can't tell a good guess actually.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

10 ай бұрын

I hope it's just a bad copy, but I can't be 100% sure

@KiR_3d

10 ай бұрын

@@LucaPetraliaPhotography if you have a local Tamron service then you can ask them if they can re-calibrate the lens if you still have it.

I just ordered this lens Used for 499-00 US.. Sadly I saw your review after I pulled the trigger. Let's see how I like it... I think I may go for the Xf 50-140 just spend the money not as much reach but Quality. Im shooting Xpro2 and Xt4.. Will let you know.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

6 ай бұрын

I probably had a bad copy of the lens. I'm sure yours will be good

@robertoalfalla256

5 ай бұрын

I recieved this lens and and will be testing out the next few weeks. Upon arrival I like the build quality and the shots I've taken are sharp enough for me at this point.

@samprasik

Ай бұрын

@@robertoalfalla256 Can you describe how this lens turned out after your tests?

@robertoalfalla256

Ай бұрын

Well I didn't like it and returned it. I just didn't check any boxes for me. Mediocre image quality at the end of day.

I have this lens and find it as sharp as my son's Fuji 70-300 at 200-300mm at f8. Never got any results like this video. Really think he got a bad copy. We shoot surfing and really don't use these lens for anything else. Wide open the Fuji lens is sharper. The Tamron zoom is too stiff to recommend for serious video. I use the Fuji for video. If you are just doing photography in good light, the Tamron is a bargain but forget it for video.

@gillyb44

Жыл бұрын

I use this lens on my Fuji xt3 and X S10 i love the results at both ends. A very versatile lens to go for the day with

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I believe my copy wasn't great, considering everyone says they're fine with the results

@KiR_3d

10 ай бұрын

@@gillyb44 hi! How to test it with X-T3 if I'll be buying it (not online)? Seems that X-T3 's sensor barely shows the true results because of it's resolution.

@KiR_3d

10 ай бұрын

@@LucaPetraliaPhotography BTW, did you've tested 200-300 range in different conditions? I've read that some places (like high mountains) can introduce non-sharp results just by their nature. About that "magical Sony version results" I just think that Sony cameras use sharpen algorithms on fly as a trick to "be a legend" among usual "non-geek" users.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

10 ай бұрын

I tested it in several environments, and unfortunately nothing changed. Of course warm air can play it's role in bad results at 300mm at infinity or long distances, but I was getting similar results even with fairly close subjects

I bought this lens encouraged by positive reviews. However, I bought it not for photography but for filming. In my opinion, photography requires better quality lenses. The movie, however, is not so demanding. The focal length of 18-300mm covers my needs but the lens could be a little brighter, although 4.0. For me, the main downside of this lens is the hard working zoom. Sometimes I need to make a smooth approach or departure. Unfortunately, even follow focus doesn't help. The sprockets skip under the influence of high force. I haven't given up yet and am looking for a solution. :-) Regards

I’m surprised this lens was soft for you. Dustin Abbot gave this lens a good review and was quite surprised with the sharpness of this lens. Perhaps this could be an issue of sample variation or quality control issues.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I'd hope so. And I'd be glad to test another one if Tamron sends it to me to prove me wrong.

@hejakma4682

Жыл бұрын

for some reason the tamrons seem to perform better as sony versions. Despite optically beeing identical there must be something different.

@enriquelopez61

Жыл бұрын

@@hejakma4682 perhaps the optical formula isnt thought for x trans sensors, not really shure if it makes any difference

You really should have tried another one because most reviewers have found it acceptably sharp.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

7 ай бұрын

I probably should've, but I didn't feel like giving it another chance

You may be right but pictures or videos would leave more to the viewers judge.

I returned mine for similar reasons..

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

8 ай бұрын

Ok, I'm not the only one then

Same on Tamron 18-200mm Di III-A VC, absolutely worst sharpness. I have Tamron 70-300mm and it is perfectly sharp, this ASP-C lenses is hell. Sigma 18-50is perfect.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

2 ай бұрын

The sigma is a much shorter range, way easier to build and design. I'm still convinced my copy was bad

I sold mine after a few months of ownership. It was objectively a versatile lens. But it didn't feel very capable. I didn't feel like it inspired my to create art.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing

I am really disappointed to hear you say you don't like the 18 -300. I had an 18 - 270 many many years which is since broken and I was hoping that this would be the new solution but now I've heard too many reviews saying this is not very good. I am so disappointed. I really liked having the one size fits all lens for me.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

9 ай бұрын

I get that, but consider that I may have received a bad sample. Most of the people are pretty satisfied with it

I don't know why people expect a Superzoom lens with this aperture range to perform well in low light *smfh*

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

7 ай бұрын

Not expecting to be good in low light, I was expecting it to be decent in normal light, and my copy was far from it

I am sure to say you made a very subjective conclusion without any objective comparison. I had sony 70-350 and Tamron 18-300 both and compare side by side the photos. Tamron is brightor if you realize the focal length, i can take macro as sharp as my Tamron 11-20, and brightor and sharp at 300mm than sony 70-350mm. Also Sony if at 350mm is difficult to take photo handheld anyway with my shaky hands. Anyway, i am very glad with my tamron 18-300mm, with 5 year warranty, and sold my sony 70-350mm already. It serves all my purpose unless i sometimes put on my Tamron 11-20 for the northern lights not long time ago, or my Tamrom 17-70 for very general city photo shootinh without any macro or long distance photographs.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

2 күн бұрын

I had the Sony 70-350 for a while after I posted this review... With my copy of the Tamron there was no comparison at all. The Sony was leaps and bounds above the tamron in sharpness

Lesson learned. Never buy 3rd party lenses unless it’s a Zeiss.

@LucaPetraliaPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I'd say this is too extreme. There are good third party lenses around. The Viltrox 13 and 85mm for example. The sigma primes seem to be good (although I haven't tried them yet) and the sigma 18-50 seems promising.