TAMRON - 16-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Canon EF-S - Black - B016E

Product Information

Di-II lenses are performance-engineered expressly for digital SLR cameras with image sensors commonly referred to as APS-C What you can clearly see from all these images is that the Nikon is sharper in a noticeable way wide open – however, stopping down the Tamron to about f/9 (and even f/11 from our experience) does make quite a bit of change – although the Nikon is still a bit sharper. Considering the barrel telescopes out to double the length, the minimal wobble at full stretch is acceptable for a consumer-grade lens. The thing though is that it doesn’t affect image quality. The lens can focus to within 3.5 inches of the front element. At a 300mm focal length, this means the lens can focus on subjects 2.4 inches wide.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM– This might be good if you want a lens on a tight budget. Some of its features include two low-ultra dispersion elements, four-stop image stabilizer, fast and accurate autofocus, and comprehensive weather seals. The contrast and sharpness are perfect throughout the zoom range.

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. The other two switches are to toggle the AF/MF and VC on/off. The AF/MF switch on the side of the lens makes it easy to switch between the two focusing systems. With the Tamron AF 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD wide open, you can see some very noticeable light fall-off in the corners throughout the zoom range. Stopping down helps, although to completely get rid of this phenomenon, you will need to use an f-stop of f/8 or smaller. There's also some very obvious barrel distortion at the 16mm setting.

Chromatic aberration– We did notice quite a bit of CA on some of our images and this is definitely one of the weaker points of this lens. Stabilization ensures consistent, sharp images in handheld photography while eliminating the need for faster shutter speeds. Autofocus

The version of this Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro lens I had to test was fitted for Canon EF-S, so I chose to mount it on an EOS 70D – being perhaps at the upper end of the kind of camera with which we might expect this lens to be used. Extended or contracted, the lens makes a fine mate for the body. The two balance well, and while somewhat heavy for all-day carrying, it is no worse than most enthusiasts are prepared to lumber themselves with. A petal-shaped hood is supplied with the lens, which does a decent job of shielding the front element from extraneous light that may cause flare or loss on contrast. At 300mm, shooting into the light does result in a slight loss of contrast, but otherwise, this lens is fairly resistant to flare. 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. 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. We compared the lens to the closest one that we had at the time – the Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED which has the same maximum focal length although it has a much smaller zoom (and a 5/.6 max aperture). We were most interested in the performance of the 16-300mm on the long telephoto side (but as you will see we also made some tests on the wide side). You can see the results below:

The Tamron focuses closer than most superzooms, down to 9cm (3.5 in) from the front of the lens. At 300mm focal length setting, it delivers a maximum magnification of 0.34x. Or to put that another way, it will fill the frame on APS-C format with a subject6cm (2.4 in) wide. This small rose wouldfit easily in the palm of your hand. Please comment below if you have any experience with the Tamron or if you have an alternative which you think might be a good match. Mediocre image quality wide open with a lot of Chromatic aberration (stopped down there is a significant improvement at f/9-f/11). The Tamron 16-300mm comes with many mechanical improvements that can benefit all-round photographers. The focusing ring is better positioned and supports a full-time manual override. Its autofocus is a step up, while its VC stabilization is quite useful.A: Increased focal lengths at both ends of the scale resulting in sharper images. Also, vignetting is not a problem, while blur resistance is impressive. Final Thoughts The 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. But there's a fairly long list of downsides too, with image quality at longer focal lengths being perhaps at the top. Sharpness is very high at the wide end when stopped down a little, right across the frame, and that's great for landscapes. At F8, high edge-to-edge sharpness is available up to 100mm or so, but then there's a notable downturn with the edges in particular taking a hit. From 200-300mm, edge sharpness is never very good, not helped by the plentiful levels of chromatic aberration present, but to be fair it stays crisp in the centre. It looks as if Tamron has prioritized central sharpness, on the basis that this is most likely where the main subject will be at longer settings - and as a very rough generalization, that's probably true.

The lens features 16 elements in its optical path. The arrangement includes LD (Low Dispersion), XR (eXtra Refractive) and ASL (Hybrid Aspherical) elements, along with multi-coatings. Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) system is also featured, which gives optical image stabilization to the tune of around 4 stops. This photo above was taken during the typhoon season which hits Japan from July to November every year. I shot this at 280mm, which was effectively 450mm with the APS-C sensor. This place doesn’t allow you to get a close vantage point so having the incredible zoom capability of the Tamron 16-300mm was a huge bonus in allowing me to get this shot. I have just acquired of these lenses for my EOS 70D. I have been trying out some shots at 300mm. Very close up, macro, I get good sharp results, but further away (say 2m) it gets much softer in comparison (both centre frame). I have used a tripod, indoors to avoid any breeze, using contrast based focus and also manual focus (which allows a x10 on the LCD for precise adjustment, though auto is very good). I have tried from F6.3 up to F22, with best results at F8. ISO 100 and speed adjusted accordingly (but on tripod). VC mode off as on tripod. I have viewed both jpg and raw (no difference really). See attached in both macro and at 2m (ish), though I may need to post enlarged. 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.Cheap glass often results in chromatic aberration, and that’s something you want to avoid. Silent wave motor When I first bought the Tamron 16–300mm I was looking for a lens that I could take with me anywhere and would be suitable in almost any situation.I didn’t have the money to get the best lens in each focal range so I wanted one lens to cover me for everything from wide-angle landscapes through to shooting high action sports from a distance. The Tamron has never let me down. Below I will show you some pictures I have shot with the Tamron to show you its versatility. If you have a smaller camera with a smaller sensor, you’ll need this feature. Frequently Asked Questions Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR– Highlights include a fast ring-type ultrasonic autofocus, updated stabilizer, four extra-low dispersion elements, sealed mounting plate, and super ED element. Very good macro capabilities (not a substitute for a real macro lens but pretty good for a lens of its type).