Smaller formats like APS-C are kind to vignetting, especially with the modest maximum apertures of a superzoom. Basically it's not a problem here, with the worst figure being 1.3 stops of darkening in the extreme corners at 16mm f/3.5, and even that is hardly serious. Distortion As is usual with these mega-zooms, we are faced with the long-end focal lengths that are not always practical to use, as the maximum working aperture when we set the lens to 300mm is f/6.3. Requiring a shutter speed of 1/300sec to keep away from the effects of camera shake, we often need to increase our ISO to levels uncomfortable for the subject matter. However, in this model the application of Vibration Compensation is of great assistance, and often during this test it made the difference between a sharp and clear image, and one that would have been neither. Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro review – Image quality The Nikon and Canon versions of the lens have Tamron’s Vibration Compensation (VC) system, and these and the Sony-fitted model (which will be introduced at some time in the future) feature the so-far excellent Piezo Drive (PZD) near-silent and fast AF motor. 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 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.

This is fairly encouraging, as due to the shutter speed issue mentioned previously, the performance of superzooms like this using the wider maximum apertures is going to be more important to many photographers than the smaller minimum apertures. While there are certainly advantages to using an APS-C sensor, there will also be costs in having a zoom with such a range. Unfortunately, the laws of optics dictate that some of those costs will be higher in a lens designed for APS-C sensors than they are for those designed for the thumbnail-sized sensors of the original bridge models. Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro review – Build and handling Sell the kit you’re not using to MPB. Trade in for the kit you need to create. Buy used, spend less and get more. Buy. Sell. Trade. Create. 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. The versatile nature of the Tamron 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD doesn’t come without its price though. Despite the fact that the image quality isn’t half bad when you consider the daunting nature of designing such a long zoom lens, it still falls short of cheaper zoom lenses (such as the Nikon 70-300mm we compared it to), although to be fair it does improve considerably when stopped down.

There's no such cure for 'focus breathing' - the reduction in focal length at closer focusing distances. All internal focusing lenses do it to some extent, as it delivers good close-up capability without the attendant increase in physical lens length, but Tamron has been unusually greedy here (details in the review). Focus breathing is not often a problem, but if you need maximum focal length at close range, with subjects like small garden birds perhaps, then it canbe. The Final Word Like most lenses nowadays, this one is made from high-grade plastic. The 16-300mm can also hold up in rainy condition as it comes with a sealing gasket. Image stabilization Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM– This lens comes with two fluoride low dispersion elements. It has an incredibly fast autofocus system and excellent image stabilization, hence sharper images in the long-range. The carrying strap helps with transportation, especially since the lens weighs nearly 6 pounds.

Things to Consider

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 Stabilization ensures consistent, sharp images in handheld photography while eliminating the need for faster shutter speeds. Autofocus This time though, the focal length range also extends wider, from 18mm to 16mm (28mm to 24mm equivalent), bringing serious wide-angle capability to the superzoom category for the first time. A couple of millimetersimprovement over the previous Tamron 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD may not sound like much, but it makes a very useful difference at short focal lengths and the extended range now sets a new record with a whopping 18.8x zoom ratio. Closest focusing distance has also been reduced to earn the 'Macro' designation (even if it's hardly macro in the true sense of allowing 1:1 reproduction).