What the Press Say . . . Tamron Lenses

AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD Di
The Tamron's wide zoom and focusing rings makes it very nice to use. It focuses quickly although it lacks the zip of its rivals. That said, it does seem to perform better than most in low light. Like the Sigma, the Tamron features a 1:2 macro setting. We were impressed by the Tamron's performance throughout the focal length range. At the shorter end it delivers very sharp results, especially at f/8-11, while zooming sees a drop off in resolution to fair to good at 300mm. Distortion is well conrolled although you need to take care at the meximum telephoto end as it is higher than normal. The Macro setting (lens set between 180mm and 300mm) really adds to the value of the lens, because the results show excellent sharpness and contrast.
SUMMARY: A very good telezoom that rivals the Sigma for quality.

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For a budget lens, the Tamron 70-300mm performs surprisingly well, producing images with excellent resolution at shorter focal lengths. The Macro feature is a useful addition, offering an introduction to close-up photography that should yield excellent results if used within its limitations.
Overall I feel the Tamron is an excellent choice for those looking for a budget telephoto addition to the kit lens supplied with their camera.

  • Lightweight
  • Resolution at shorter focal lengths
  • Macro feature
  • Good value for money
  • Good resistance to ghosting and flare
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