Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC Lens Review

Tamron’s New VC Image Stabilization
Tamron’s new VC Vibration Compensation system works great. I was able to consistently shoot three shutter speeds slower with the VC turned on. A few months ago I had a loaner Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 L IS lens and based on my touchy-feely memory of that lens, I think Tamron’s VC image stabilization works as well or better than the Canon system. The first time I zoomed the Tamron to 300mm and the shaky image in my viewfinder snapped to attention, I was sold. Unfortunately, I can’t do a head-to-head comparison. But even if the Tamron isn’t as good, the fact that I can even compare the two lenses says a lot. The Canon 28-300mm L and Tamron 28-300mm VC lenses are in a very different class, both in terms of price and optics. If the $600 Tamron compares at all favorably with a $2500 Canon L-Series superzoom, I think Tamron has reason to be proud.

Tamron’s Vibration Compensation (VC) image stabilization works great! Left: 1/6th second at 28mm Right: 1/30th second at 218mm (click on photos for larger versions)

Adding image stabilization to their lens line is great for Tamron. Their high-end lenses without image stabilization already get excellent reviews from PhotographyREVIEW.com members. But image stabilization offers big benefits besides just sharper photos. Being able to shoot at slower shutter speeds gives photographers more exposure options. It allows you to use smaller apertures for increased depth-of-field. And most importantly, it allows use of lower ISO settings for less noise and better overall image quality. Being able to use shutter speeds three stops slower meant I never had to go over ISO 400 with the Tamron AF28-300mm XR Di VC lens.

For more on image stabilization, see Sebastian Szyszka’s excellent Image Stabilization Guide.

Tamron 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC Image Quality
After my first day with the Tamron, I couldn’t wait to see if the 28-300′s optics would live up to the feel and performance. I loved the huge zoom range and VC image stabilization performance! But build quality, feel, and image stabilization don’t make any difference if the image quality isn’t there. During the time I had the lens I shot portraits, landscapes, flowers, and mountain bike photos, wide, telephoto, and close-ups. Overall, I would call the image quality good. The images are definitely softer than I am used to and there is noticeable chromatic aberration. They are usable. But I have to admit that when I first saw them on the computer, I was a little disappointed. To be fair, I have some pretty good lenses, and the only zoom with this range that I’ve used is the $2500 Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS. So my standards are pretty high. Keeping that in mind, and adjusting expectations accordingly, the Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC lens isn’t bad. Is it as good as my Tamron AF28-75 f/2.8 XR Di or the Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L? Hell no. But for a lens with this kind of reach that’s the size of the Canon 28-135mm IS and costs $600, it would be a little crass to complain that it’s not as sharp as a pro lens. It just might not be the right lens for working pros who value image quality above all else.

Tamron AF28-300mm VC @ 300mm	Canon EF 300mm f/4L @ 300mm
Tamron AF28-300mm VC detail	Canon EF 300mm f/4L detail

Tamron AF28-300mm VC at 28mm	Tamron AF28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di lens at 28mm
Tamron AF28-300mm VC at 28mm – 100% detail	Tamron AF28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di lens at 28mm – 100% detail

In a brick wall comparison with my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L, and the Canon EF 300mm f/4L it’s clear that the Tamron 28-300mm VC lens isn’t the sharpest of the bunch. It’s also less contrasty and chromatic aberration is pretty obvious. The best image quality is at about 70-80mm and f/8 or 11. There’s also some distortion at the wide end of the zoom, although it’s not that bad. Ultimately, considering the zoom range and price, I think the Tamron 28-300mm VC lens compares pretty favorably to the $3000 of glass I tested it against.

Tamron AF28-300mm VC “Brick Wall” Sample Photos
	Tamron AF28-300mm XR Di VC @ 28mm Tamron AF28-75mm XR Di @ 28mm Tamron AF28-300mm XR Di VC @ 70mm Tamron AF28-75mm XR Di @ 75mm Tamron AF28-300mm XR Di VC @ 200mm Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L @ 175mm Tamron AF28-300mm XR Di VC @ 300mm Canon EF 300mm f/4L @ 300mm

 
While testing I discovered some interesting anomalies. The Tamron 28-300mm VC lens underexposes by about half a stop compared to the other three lenses. It’s also on the optimistic side as far as focal length goes. This is most obvious when comparing to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L and the Canon EF 300mm f/4L. With the 70-200, I had to back off the zoom to 175mm to match the angle-of-view of the Tamron at 200mm. And the Canon EF 300mm f/4L is tighter than the Tamron is at its maximum focal length. I don’t think the underexposure or shorter focal length is a real problem. But it’s good to know about them before you buy the lens. And photographers who are really picky about exposure will want to test the exposure accuracy of the lens to see if they need to bump up the exposure compensation a bit.

My usual advice to photographers looking at superzoom lenses in this range is to buy something shorter because so many optical compromises need to be made when the zoom ratio gets this big. Of course, if you spend a fortune, you can get monster zooms that perform. But if you’ve got $600 and want this kind of zoom range I think the Tamron 28-300mm VC is a good compromise – maybe even a great lens when you consider the excellent Vibration Compensation performance.

The Verdict
Photographers on a budget who want a do-it-all lens, or travel photographers who need to travel light will appreciate the Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC lens. You will have to sacrifice some sharpness, though. Personally, I would rather give up the 300mm reach and carry two sharper lenses. But if size or price are limitations, then it could very well be a good compromise. If you want a sharper lens with this zoom range and image stabilization, be prepared to pay about four times the Tamron’s $600 price tag.

For those of us who are using APS-C sensor cameras like the Canon EOS 40D or the Nikon D60, a slightly shorter version of this lens with a truly wide angle-of-view would be nice. (See article and press release for the planned Tamron 15x AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC MACRO Lens) But I have definitely been in situations where the Tamron’s zoom range, size and Vibration Compensation would have made it the perfect lens – even if it is softer than other lenses I own.

The most exciting thing about this lens is Tamron’s Vibration Compensation image stabilization. It works great and transforms a 28-300mm consumer zoom lens into something kinda special. I’m really looking forward to seeing the VC image stabilization integrated into some of Tamron’s better lenses, like the AF28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di and the AF70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro zoom. Having high quality alternatives to expensive Canon and Nikon glass is always good. Tamron’s high-end lenses are excellent. And with the addition of Vibration Compensation, I think they can expect to sell a lot more of them.

Related Content:
The Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC Lens User Reviews
All Tamron Lens Reviews
Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC Sample Photo Gallery
All Zoom Lens User Reviews
Digital SLRs Forum
Image Stabilization Guide
Tamron Lens Web Site