Tamron 28-300mm DI VC PZD Super Zoom - Review from a Professional Photographer in 2021

[@worldadventuretravel]

Watching in 2024 to find a lightweight all-rounder that produces reliable and solid image quality. All of my Sigma Art series lenses are huge and heavy. I prefer faster glass, but I want to cover the 85mm+ focal range in one shot for those rare situations where changing lenses or lugging around all my f/1.2-f/1.8s is just too much work. Thanks for such a thorough review.

[@belaldarder7380]

Two weeks ago, I removed my impacted lower wisdom tooth, I was in pain and I had to stay in bed for a couple of days just resting and consuming a lot of You Tube videos. I came across your channel and for a couple of hours I binge watched all your videos. Please keep them coming!

[@RoyRiley]

Glad you enjoyed the videos. Thank You. I sympathise as I too have spent time in bed with dental pain. Nasty business! Not an easy time for you and I am very pleased that my videos in some way helped you pass the time. Thanks for sharing your story and I wish you all the very best for the future.. more videos coming soon! RR

[@bryanotero123]

​@@RoyRiley i reckon this is an old video but. Can 28-300 be used for journalism and portraiture like work?

[@RoyRiley]

@@bryanotero123 the simple answer is yes and it would be flexible and easy to use BUT other lenses would be ultimately better quality and more ideally suited to these things. As I said in the video this lens is a compromise and needs to be treated as such. Hope this helps. R

[@mqb17]

So, I have this lens paired with a 6D mkii and am now seriously considering buying an EF 24-105mm L USM (first gen). The irony is this whole time I just thought I was really bad at focusing and getting sharp images.

[@mhsvz6735]

Excellent, thank you. I bought a new Canon 28-300mm L f/3.5-5.6 IS USM about 1 year ago. Since then, it’s been my go-to travel lens on my 5DS-R. I combine it with my Canon 11-24mm L f/4 and 24-70mm ii L lenses. Canon 5D-IV as second camera. Very happy with this travel setup.

[@RoyRiley]

Thank you! I have very limited experience with the canon 28-300. Always seemed very sharp and incredibly versatile. Do you find it too heavy or just get used to it?

[@mhsvz6735]

Roy Riley No, not too heavy. I’m very pleased with the image quality as well. A little chromatic aberration, easily fixed in post. If anything were to happen to the lens, I’d purchase another in a quick second. Unless something similar were to come out in the RF mount, then I’d upgrade to mirrorless. Also waiting for a high resolution (80 mpx or more), mirrorless Canon body, then I’ll make the move to mirrorless.

[@thesharpshooter4u]

Thanks for this review. I've owned this lens for about 8 years and it was great when paired with my old Canon DSLR that was only 8 MP, but when I upgraded my camera body to a 24 MP version, I noticed how soft the lens can be when telephoto. At first I was wondering if there was something wrong with it, but you helped confirm it's just a limitation of the lens. Thanks!

[@RoyRiley]

Glad it was helpful!

[@buyaport]

It is (or was, as it is discontinued) a great lens. Unless you are prepared to carry around a bunch of lenses, and miss a shot while changing lenses, this covers nearly everything. And you are right: For those low light conditions a nifty-fifty comes in handy. Plus it is very unobtrusive, when travelling. Big advantage.

[@RoyRiley]

I have an additional concern that it makes me very lazy!

[@buyaport]

Addendum: I now have had a closer look at the images I took with this lens. More than half of them ( nearly 60%) are in the range 28-35. The rest is spread over the whole zoom range, but few are actually over 100mm. Now these numbers tell little because I also noticed I took many pictures from the same position of the same motive in the longer zoom range (just to be sure), but was more careful on the shorter end. Where did I use the lens? On travel, i.e. mostly cityscapes and landscapes. In low light conditions (buildings) I used the 50mm, which I often found to be a bit too long. Conclusion: I now take my 35 mm 2.0 IS and my 85 mm 1.8 on travel. If I really need to zoom in, I use the "digital zoom" (aka cropping). And compared to the 20.1 MP of my old 5Dii I can crop a lot with the 30 MP 5Div without loosing quality, certainly not compared to the "super zoom". -- One never stops learning (aka cannot make up one's own mind).

[@mudgie069]

As you stated I think this is an excellent full frame lens for holidays/vacations and if you don't want to change lenses. Sure, it has it's limitations but all in all, for the money I don't think you can go wrong.

[@Danny-BigD]

I see this is 2 years oud but I really liked it. I bought a used T6i came with the kit. I then bought the lens your talking about and man I love it. I'm kinda like the woman at 11min in. I really like the natural untouched look if I can get it. Thanks makes me feel so much better. I got a great deal $69 mint. Lol yeah I can't see me ever getting a $1000+ lens.. would be AWESOME. Thanks ALLOT! Ok I came back tried shooting in RAW...wow you can change SO MUCH MORE! I like that

[@capturedbyhisdesign8656]

Perfect-but I have a love/hate relationship with this lens for the whole compromise reason you stated. If I'm on business travel and do not know if I'll even shoot then I'll bring the superzoom and most likely be glad I did, but then when I get that perfect shot and review it when you get home I always say "if I had just brought my 70-200 instead!" Uggh the never-ending compromise battle.

[@RoyRiley]

That eternal question! All the gear v lightweight and portable… Actually Apple seemed to have solved the problem. Just get an iPhone 13 pro! I wonder if Lugging heavy and expensive gear around the world might well be a dog that’s very nearly had it’s day..

[@davegoldsmith2588]

Excellent video. I just bought this lens and am looking to reduce weight of what i carry. I now have a small drone, Sony zve10 camera, 23mm f1.4 and this lens. Thats it. Before this i lugged around a large nikon slr and a huge 400 mm lens plus an 18 -105mm ens. Im aware i might be compromising but its worth it for the space and weight saving. I would be happy with most of the photos shown above. Thank you. Just subscribed.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Dave! Appreciate your thoughts and subscription. These lenses are pretty much a joy to use when you let go of the pixel peeping, especially if you have spent half a lifetime lugging big glass around!

[@bryanbaskett4010]

Excellent review! I'm hobbyist but enjoy taking good quality pictures. I shoot a lot of track and field events at my daughter's school (as most parents don't have SLRs and many cannot attend the events I've become the unofficial "official" photographer) I have a Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18.0 MP CMOS 18mpx, I've been using a Canon 75-300, which captures some great shots, however I don't like being the human wide angle, having to back up to get group shots. I have always been of a similar mind to you, shooting with the "proper" lens (within my budget) for the shot. Based on your review I just ordered this Tamron. I actually found a new one on Ebay for $210 with tax and shipping. I also have the 50mm Canon 1.8, I like the idea of having that one in the pocket (It weighs practically nothing), and between the two being able to cover a broad spectrum of shots. Thanks again for the excellent review and tips! Always great to learn from a pro!

[@KM-qd4kf]

Thanks for the video. You’ve reinforced my view of it. It’s not for pixel peepers. It takes a respectable image which benefit from some post processing.I take this and a 50mm when in Indonesia where I take landscape & candids on a full frame &/or DX Nikon. It suits my needs for Australian Rules Football which is fast & furious on A DX & they’re fine for Instagram. I have yet to get any printed but this could be the impetus for getting some done. I was taking some images in Bali of my daughter & her boyfriend & they blew me away. I didn’t know I could get the results I did for portraits. The Nikon 28-300 is highly regarded but frankly there’s a bit of snobbery against 3rd party lenses & that’s fine. I’ve found the Tamron’s to be damn fine lenses.

[@RoyRiley]

Superb! Glad you enjoyed the video. Pleased you are finding success with this lens. Very under rated in my opinion and I hate all the snobbery about gear. Just use what works for you! All the very best and I am very jealous of you hanging out in Indonesia. It’s always been on my list but so far have not been. Roy

[@whitemold]

Thank you for this review! compared with rf 24-240mm , Which one do you recommande with using eos rp ??

[@RoyRiley]

Not used the RF lens so cannot really comment but I would imagine the RF lens is superior.

[@ghayesphoto]

Very useful review of this lens, which I understand was released in 2014. I am going to a model aircraft show with models in flight. I am using a Nikon D500 (APC sensor) and I am torn between this 28-300mm Tamron and a Tamron 70-210mm F4 DiVC USD. The 70-210 is larger and heavier but optically is this the better lens?

[@RoyRiley]

I dont have experience of the Tamron 70-210 so cannot comment on that lens. I would Imagine the 70-210 would be a sharper but less flexible option. This is how these things often seem to be.. I guess you need to ask yourself what’s the more important factor for you individually. If you wish for a wide range of pictures that capture the memories of the event but do t need to enlarge them or desire critically sharp final pictures then the 28-300 will do the job, however if you require perfect sharpness and high quality final images for printing at size or for professional use then I would look for an alternative to the super zoom.. Let me know which way you go and how it turns out. Best. R

[@AanGozall]

actually looking to buy one for 2021. Thanks for your video. Cheers!

[@RoyRiley]

Good luck with it if you get hold of one. All the best for 2022. RR

[@chrisbrown6432]

Thanks for this. I own the lens and have just subscribed to you. I have a couple of L lenses and a 50mm f1.8 II lens and can see what you mean about the compromises. I loved your photographs taken with this lens.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Chris! It’s a great combo when you use it alongside the nifty fifty

[@tompurvis1261]

I solved the range issue on my last trip to Switzerland. I carried two 5DM3s with either a 17-40 and 24-105 for landscape outings or 24 and 50 primes for city walk abouts. The 50 is a Zeiss Planar T stopped down to 7.1. Sharp from edge to edge. I looked like a fool, but got some great shots. I get out of my cube once a year for an adventure and don’t want to come home with soft images.

[@RoyRiley]

Glad you found something that works for you!

[@juliamoore1139]

Thank you for your candid video! Have you tried the 16-300mm? If so, which do you prefer, and why?

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks. Afraid no experience with the 16-300.. actually never heard of it..sounds like a miracle. Is that for a full frame or crop sensor?

[@VladimirHidalgo]

Would you consider this lens + software enhancement (Topaz/Light room) to be an acceptable professional solution for web media?

[@RoyRiley]

We each have to make our own minds up about this kind of thing. Watch the review for a few clues but ultimately you are your own editor, quality controller and must take personal responsibility for your choices. Rather than relying on the opinion of someone else. Only then will you grow. . Use it and then you will know!

[@RoyRiley]

Sorry long day. Stressful day. Too many questions. Not enough answers. Yes probably fine for web media so long as you understand it’s not perfect! Happy travels. RR

[@stevocem]

Cool video. I own that lens for Nikon. As you say, a little compromise but overall a good nice weather walk around lens. I was even able to lock on and capture some birds in flight with it, and the images are good.

[@RoyRiley]

Thank you! Yes it’s a lens that really can do everything. Such a joy to carry around without all the weight and hassle of bigger lenses.

[@WaechterDerNacht]

Nice! What camera do you use? I'm thinking about either this, the nikon one or even a 70-200 2.8 to go skitouring in northern Norway. Weight and versatility looks great, but not sure wether it is a bit ridiculous to put that lens on a high mp camera like a d850...

[@stevocem]

@@WaechterDerNacht I use it with D810. It does the job, however, 70-200 2.8 is clearly superior in terms of image quality. The Tamron gives you a lot of versatility tough. The Nikon super zoom lens is not better than the Tamron in my opinion.

[@herrykadir6442]

Thank you for excellent review🙏

[@RoyRiley]

My pleasure! Glad you found it useful. RR

[@tender.branson]

Is it still the best all-rounder in 2024? I'm using Canon.

[@RoyRiley]

Honestly not sure what else is on the market these days. I don’t believe this lens will work on an R series camera though. Don’t have mine around to check.

[@tender.branson]

@@RoyRiley it's a pity, but thanks for response.

[@hashemalsha.1728]

Thank you sir. For me, I regretted buying this lens Tamron 28-300 di vc pzd, it's not enough sharp with a high focal range. I said that after I used Tamron 70-210 F/4

[@RoyRiley]

Yes. If ultimate sharpness is your hearts desire then I believe you are right and this lens may well leave you with regret. It is, after all, a compromise. Thank you for your thoughts. Much appreciated. RR

[@Mosesybanez]

I just bought this lens for 150 dollars after watching your videos and for the 150 bucks I think now watching your video I got a phenomenal lens for 150 bucks haha 😄

[@RoyRiley]

Nice deal!

[@sahilbrar7330]

I have all the lenses that i love and need and now i was addicted to find something cheap and something i dont love and just abuse and as a matter of fact my primary camera is a 5DSR, and now i am like no boy noo this might not be a great idea. i also value each one of the pictures that i ever take and so i think this is only a way to diminish my skills perfection or quality control or my nature of doing things basically so i shouldnt go any further down this road though i did highly adore the vintage lenses i am collecting now as a hobby it seems but thats i guess is a separate topic which only enhances my adoration for images and creativity so they should be my limit. THANKS

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Sahil! All the very best. RR

[@socksonfeet8125]

What is a quid and how do I get 600 of them? :D

[@RoyRiley]

Haha. Great comment! A quid is a UK pound. A GBP. Not the best. Not the worst. How you get 600 of them is another story. Work ( advised) borrow ( not advised) beg (make your own mind up but not for a lens) steal ( ends in tears and mess) so work is probably the one to go for. Work, invest, think. Don’t spend money on shit. To recap, Work, invest, don’t waste. Repeat! Thank you for such a great comment man. Appreciate your time and just my opinion! RR

[@marcp.1752]

It's a 2014 released superzoom "soupzoom" lens - of course no L-quality, it can't be, by laws of physics simply, >10x zoom factor here. But as a light travel all-in-one alternative, i think it's fair enough, and Tamrons best effect (latest) version of that 28-300 iteration, and your images do show, if you don't watch it too closely, it's perfectly fine, for what it is. And (much) better, than no image, hence -composition.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Marc! Spot on! R

[@marcp.1752]

@@RoyRiley Yes Roy. Well, my copy goes next week to Tamron for repair, the AF is broken...i've read that more than once about this lens, so it's maybe a serial issue...

[@RoyRiley]

@@marcp.1752 good luck with it. Hope you get a successful fix

[@marcp.1752]

@@RoyRiley Yes, Tamron told me it's repairable, the whole AF drive mechanism block would being replaced & afterwards calibrated. Let's hope so. thanks.

[@steveteoh58]

Thanks Roy for a down-to-earth evaluation of this lens's image quality or lack of. I am a hobbyist who values more of having the camera with me that I am comfortable carrying and shooting with. Professional sharpness in my images is secondary to what I desire in my photos mainly because I am not paid to shoot what I shoot. Corner blur is not a concern because I view an image as a whole and not a sum of parts. In other words, this lens is the one for me .....light, reasonably sharp and very versatile !

[@RoyRiley]

Good choice. I agree with your thinking. Good luck with it. All the best.Roy

[@TheLongislandlimey]

What a great review. I had already ordered this lens before I found this video. Can't wait for the lens to arrive.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers! Good luck with your new lens. Let me know how you get on..RR

[@alexandreprevost4192]

Thank you for the video

[@MattsGustavsson]

Pls tell me what is your absolutly gourgeous dog breed name?

[@RoyRiley]

@@MattsGustavsson haha! Really she is a mongrel. A very wonderful mongrel. Half mongrel half alien!

[@mattmanzano51]

Well done!

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers MM!

[@mrbob4u495]

This video made me see the "flaw" in my own definition of "image quality," v. "pixel peeping." I tend to peep more than is necessary to define a good quality image.

[@RoyRiley]

I guess it’s always down to personal preference. These days I try to go for “feel” as much as technical perfection but its always a challenge when you know there might be a chance that the picture ends up getting used huge somewhere and then all I can see is the imperfection. I hope the video was of some use to you. All the best. Roy

[@mrbob4u495]

@@RoyRiley We all tend to be highly self-critical, even when it comes to work product. I appreciate all you do and share. Thanks.

[@RoyRiley]

@@mrbob4u495 thanks man. So nice to get such positive feedback. Roy

[@z4ng3tsu1ch1g0]

That compromise is so annoying. On hikes i'd rather just use my smartphone for shots. But then ill find an interesting composition and I start regretting not bringing the DSLR and big whites.

[@RoyRiley]

This is where its really important to know why you are taking a photograph.. for fun.. for memories. for a client.. to improve as a photographer.. each have their own unique needs and requirements.. I have to ask myself this all the time and it helps with the compromise! hope this helps. R

[@lweleven3423]

Reassured me it will do what I need . I to have been in this came a long time , a lens is a tool to do a job compromise is often necessary unless you have a strong back or deep pockets lol

[@RoyRiley]

Glad to be of some help! Just dont pixel peep too much! RR

[@lweleven3423]

@@RoyRiley ha ha I’ve learned it’s pointless I’ve sold images from. Used £50 Fuji Bridge camera 12mp , in previous years …just upgraded to. Nikon mirrorless, from MFT , just looking for a just in case lens for my bag , most of my stuff is landscape

[@RoyRiley]

@@lweleven3423 didn’t I read somewhere about a Nikon Z 24-200.. sounded interesting?? I know nothing about this lens apart from that it exists!

[@lweleven3423]

@@RoyRiley yes few hundred more. New and it bigger than the tamron I think . hope to pick up a used tamron used

[@RoyRiley]

@@lweleven3423 is that 24-200 on a full frame? Nice focal range..

[@buyaport]

Thanks

[@RoyRiley]

Super kind! Thank You 🙏

[@maanipallath]

this lens suitable for canon 250d

[@RoyRiley]

Afraid I am not 100% sure. Apologies

[@MrPhilbautista]

Yes, but it's not ideal. The 250D is an APS-C camera and it has a crop factor of 1.6. That means that the field of view (FOV) will be tighter by about 60%. This will give your 28-300 a FOV equivalent to about 45-480 on a full frame. If you don't mind the tighter field of view on the wide end, then you're golden, since it will also crop your view on the long end, making it easier to fill the frame when you zoom in.

[@gdjaybee742]

This is why I was advocating full frame 36mp on D5000 bodies with a heavy duty chassis and battery grip option to balance the weight, and still be compact. The high megapixel sensor will give you a better chance of getter the absolute image quality and compensate for this lenses short comings, while still be a portable kit.

[@MrRenoman2011]

cute dog and great video

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers RR!

[@booshipvideo5513]

Strictly not for video?

[@RoyRiley]

good question! probably not the best for video.. apart from if you want to do some heavy zoom schnizzle.. I only used this lens once for video and that was to show a distant scene but then zoom right back to the wide end to show the surroundings.. worked ok.. not the best but OK. I think probably there are better options these days but it worked for me when I had a moment of need so not to be ruled out entirely

[@mhsvz6735]

Subscribed!

[@АлексейВладимировичХвастунов]

Прекрасный обзор, спасибо

[@davidscanlan6326]

Thank you for a very interesting review. I really do need a good travel lens. I didn't know about the Tamron 28-300 until I stumbled over it on the Wexphoto shop site an hour or so ago. I've just come back from Australia. I took my Canon 24-105 F4L zoom with me. I didn't want to take anything heavier due to having to lug it around etc. Of course, it really wasn't flexible enough. At the time I was swearing (under my breath so that my daughter did not hear!) about how inflexible it was for getting the Koala up the tree, or the swamp Wallaby that was spotted on the other side of the field. For 98% of the images, I'm sure this would be great. But then there were those shots of the sunrise at Bribie Island, or the one of pre-sunrise over the Pumicestone Passage, and I don't think they would have worked if I had used the Tamron. It seems to be a frustrating lens! If it had that extra 5% then it would be perfection for somebody like me! :D Time to do some more digging...

[@Macjohn1419]

With your discerning tastes. I’m surprised you would review this lens at all, even on a whim.

[@RoyRiley]

Not only reviewed it. Used it. Used it lots. That’s why I reviewed it.

[@RoyRiley]

You can be whimfully surprised by that! Is whimfully even a word? I’m not sure.

[@Macjohn1419]

@@RoyRiley, then it’s as good as any other lens you own. I’ve had some mediocre lenses and promptly replaced them. I wouldn’t review or recommend them. I guess my tastes are more discerning. What I’m saying is that you go down a list of things you don’t like about it, then at the end you exclaim it’s a great lens. Whaaaa?

[@RoyRiley]

@@Macjohn1419 Depends on use case. I can only speak from my experiences. You obviously know what you like and that’s cool. What’s your favourite lens? What do you mostly like to shoot?

[@Macjohn1419]

@@RoyRiley, the lenses I own are from years of trial and error. About half are Nikkor and the others are a mix of Tamron and Tokina. I own one Zeiss lens only for its bokeh balls that I use during the holidays and I get a lot of compliments and requests to use for portraits. The lenses I’ve discarded I would never recommend to anyone. Some were pricey, but not worth the cost and I tell new photographers to save their money. A few defied my opinion, only later to apologize for not listening. I mainly shoot portraits, landscapes and travel. I do not publish my work, nor do I have any blogs or vlogs. My background has been in commercial product photography for catalogs and packaging for 35 years. Currently retired and shooting for a hobby and for personal requests. I do enjoy watching videos on photography products and to be sincere, I wish people making videos should do a couple of rehearsals and rewatch their videos before uploading. Most are either boring or digress into some obscure tangent that adds nothing to the video content. Most videos can be shortened considerably. Finally, the biggest turnoff is when the presenter states he/she is a professional photographer. Who would have guessed? That title is so overused. I’ve never in my entire career said I was a professional photographer. People asked what I did for a living and I would answer that I do commercial photography. I never pinned a moniker on myself.