Field Test Report: Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro SuperzoomA superior multi-purpose zoom with fast, nearly silent autofocus and a camera shake compensating system |
Article & Images by Peter K. Burian |
Although Tamron makes many types of lenses, their superzoom models have been the best sellers because of exceptional versatility. The latest entry is the world's first 18.8X zoom and it offers a nominal 16-300mm range; in other words, it's a 24-450mm equivalent on a Nikon DSLR or 25.6-480mm on an EOS camera with the typical sensor size. (A version for Sony DSLT's will also be available this year.) Those focal lengths -- and the impressive close focusing ability -- should meet most shooters' needs and they're all packed into a surprisingly compact moisture and dust resistant barrel. Of course, Tamron has also added the best of its latest technology, including high tech optical glass, a camera shake compensating system and a very fast, nearly silent autofocus motor. |
During a family vacation in South Dakota and while shooting events close to home, I carried only a Nikon D7100 with this lightweight (540g/19oz) Tamron 16-300mm lens. It was great to leave my heavy, fully loaded camera bag at home while feeling confident that I would have the focal lengths required for any photo opp. |
Design and Construction |
Like several other recent Tamron lenses, this one is equipped with a Piezo Drive (PZD) ultrasonic motor for nearly silent internal autofocus. It's super fast and reliable especially in the 16-200mm range with effective tracking AF when used with a recent DSLR with an advanced AF system. Full-time manual focus adjustment is available without switching out of AF mode. This aspect is useful for making slight tweaks when the camera decides to focus on the nose instead of the eyes in a portrait, for example. Note too that this lens can focus to a mere 39cm (15.3 inches) allowing for 0.345x magnification (1:2.9 ratio) at the long end. I found this to be useful for frame-filling images of blossoms in nature photography. |
Tamron's latest Vibration Compensation (VC) stabilizer is also included. The system employs three driving coils that electromagnetically activate a group of lens elements to help compensate for camera shake. The stabilizing effect is visible in the camera's viewfinder -- or the LCD screen Live View mode -- as an indication of its effectiveness. (VC will not be included in the Sony mount lens because Alpha cameras are equipped with their own built-in stabilizers.) In my tests, VC provided roughly a three step compensating effect. In other words, I was often able to get sharp photos at about 1/60 sec. when shooting at a 450mm equivalent during a mock trial indoors in Deadwood, SD. |
What's even more impressive in my estimation is the optical design. In spite of an affordable price, this lens boasts three Molded-Glass Aspherical elements, two LD (Low Dispersion) elements and an XR plus a UXR (Ultra-Extra Refractive Index) element. The combination was intended to correct optical aberrations for fine image quality at both wide angle and telephoto, while the multi-layer coating minimizes ghosting and flare even in strong side lighting. |
Evaluation
|
Over the years, I have tested dozens of zooms and found that this one was definitely better than average in the multi-purpose category. While reviewing my images on a large professional monitor, I made the following observations:
|
Final Assessment The wide aperture and single focal length lenses of any brand always receive the highest ratings and that’s understandable. However, such products are large/heavy/expensive and less versatile, making superzoom more popular for family and travel photography. Considering its fine performance and many features, the Tamron 16-300mm model would also be a suitable addition to a photo enthusiast’s system. It’s great for occasions when you don’t want to carry a full camera bag while hiking, cycling, or touring, for example. Whether tucked into a hip pack or slung over a shoulder, the weight/size of this lens (on a compact DSLR) should rarely become a burden. |
Stock photographer Peter K. Burian (www.peterkburian.com) is a Contributing Editor with Photo News, Photo Life and Australian Photography as well as the author of many guide books to DSLR systems. He is also an on-line digital photography course instructor with BetterPhoto.com. |